The United States has drawn a hard line against letting Ebola reach its shores, but it is now preparing to send exposed or infected Americans to a new quarantine camp in Kenya instead.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday, May 27, that the US will not allow Ebola cases to enter the country.
The Trump administration is moving fast to set up a special facility in Kenya to hold and treat its own citizens amid a deadly outbreak that is currently spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
Rubio Draws Hard Line on Ebola Entry
“We cannot and will not allow any cases of Ebola to enter the United States,” Rubio told President Donald Trump at a cabinet meeting.
According to sources familiar with the plan, the quarantine site would be staffed by US public health officers.
It still needs final approval from the Kenyan government. Some members of the US Public Health Service have already been told to get ready to deploy.
This marks a sharp break from how America handled Ebola in the past. During previous outbreaks, infected or exposed Americans were flown back home to top biocontainment units in places like Atlanta or Nebraska. Now, the policy is to keep them on African soil.
Kenya was reportedly chosen because it has no active Ebola transmission and has a strong healthcare infrastructure, including well-equipped airports.
The idea is to use the country as a safe regional base for American aid workers, diplomats, journalists, and others who are leaving the outbreak zone in central Africa.
The World Health Organization has already declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
Also Read: Govt Responds to Reports of US-Backed Ebola Quarantine Center in Kenya
As of today, health officials in DR Conco have recorded 906 suspected cases, 105 confirmed, and at least 223 suspected deaths, plus 10 confirmed ones. Uganda has reported seven confirmed cases and one death.
The virus is spread through contact with body fluids. The current strain, Bundibugyo, spreads quickly in regions with weak health systems.
Kenyan officials have responded to the American request, with Health Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale saying the country welcomes cooperation to strengthen global health.
Hosting an Ebola quarantine camp could bring additional funding and medical support to Kenya, but it also raises serious concerns.
Critics Question Why Kenya Should Host the Facility
Many Kenyans are asking, if America does not want Ebola patients on its soil, why should Kenya accept them?
Critics say this looks like the US is trying to dump its problem on another country while talking tough about border security at home.
In the U.S., the CDC has called for staff to volunteer for screening at US airports. Officials are also considering tough travel restrictions, similar to Title 42 rules used in the past, to block people from the outbreak zone.
Kenya has worked with American health teams before and hosts several international medical projects, but turning the country into a holding pen for US Ebola cases feels different.
Concerns are that an Ebola camp on Kenyan soil could scare tourists, investors, and neighbors. Cross-border movement is common in the region, and memories of past outbreaks remain fresh.
Also Read: Trump to Set Up Ebola Quarantine Camp in Kenya for Infected Americans
Health workers in Congo and Uganda are already struggling. Poor roads, conflict, and limited supplies have slowed the response.
Traditional burial practices and family travel helped the virus spread faster across the border.
The US says it still wants to help the international fight against Ebola with testing, contact tracing, and vaccines.
President William Ruto now faces a difficult choice: approve the American Ebola camp and risk a strong backlash from Kenyans, or reject it and risk damaging relations with Washington.
Ruto may also face sharp criticism from the opposition, which is expected to capitalize on the issue to advance its campaign agenda ahead of the 2027 general elections.
