The Trump administration is moving quickly to set up a quarantine facility in Kenya for Americans exposed to or infected with Ebola, according to sources familiar with the plan.
The facility, which still needs final approval from the Kenyan government, would be staffed by U.S. public health officers.
It is designed to handle Americans coming from the Ebola outbreak zone in central Africa rather than flying them back to hospitals in the United States.
According to media reports on Tuesday, May 26, some members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps have already been told to prepare for deployment.
The move comes as a rare strain of Ebola spreads in the Democratic Republic of Congo and crosses into Uganda.
WHO Declares Ebola Emergency
The World Health Organization declared it a public health emergency of international concern earlier this week. Health officials are racing to contain what has become the third-largest Ebola outbreak on record.
In Congo, there have been 906 suspected cases, including 105 confirmed, and at least 223 suspected deaths along with 10 confirmed fatalities, according to the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
Uganda has reported seven confirmed cases and one death, most tied to the initial cluster.
This is a clear break from how past Ebola outbreaks were handled. In previous years, Americans who were exposed or fell ill were usually flown back to the U.S. or Europe for treatment in specialized biocontainment units.
Under the new approach, those people would instead be held and treated closer to the outbreak zone in a stable regional hub.
Why Kenya Was Selected
Kenya is being considered as a country that can offer a relatively stable base with good infrastructure and international airport connections.
Kenya is also not reporting active Ebola transmission, making it a practical choice for the U.S. to manage its own citizens without bringing them home during the early stages of the crisis.
The White House and the Department of Health and Human Services did not comment on the reports on Tuesday.
The Wall Street Journal first broke the story, citing people familiar with the planning.
At the same time, the CDC has asked its own staff to volunteer for urgent duty screening travelers at U.S. airports and other entry points.
An internal email obtained by Reuters shows the agency is stepping up precautions even though no Ebola cases have been confirmed in the United States and officials say the risk to the general public remains low.
Also Read: WHO Boss Explains Unusual Move to Declare Ebola Public Health Emergency in DRC and Uganda
Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected people or contaminated surfaces. It causes severe fever, bleeding, and organ failure.
The current circulating Bundibugyo strain is less deadly than some others, but it still demands rapid action.
Health workers in the region are already stretched thin dealing with conflict, poor roads, and limited medical supplies.
The decision to set up the Kenya facility fits with the Trump administration’s moves to tighten travel rules from the affected area.
Officials have signaled they want to limit entry from high-risk zones while continuing to support the international response.
Title 42-style restrictions are reportedly under consideration again to give border authorities more authority to turn away travelers from countries experiencing outbreaks.
Plan Sparks Safety and Political Concerns
Critics may argue that the plan keeps Americans at greater risk by treating them far from the country’s top medical centers.
Supporters say it protects the homeland by stopping potential chains of transmission before they start and avoiding the political backlash that would follow if an Ebola patient were brought to a U.S. city.
Also Read: Americans Affected as Ebola Outbreak Spreads
President William Ruto’s government has not yet publicly confirmed whether it will approve the U.S. request.
The country has worked with American health teams before and hosts several international medical programs, but hosting a dedicated Ebola quarantine site could raise local concerns about safety and stigma.
The move could also trigger mass protests among Kenyan Gen-Z, who have become regular critics of President Ruto’s policies.
Outbreak Spreads Across Central Africa
The outbreak began in Congo’s Ituri Province and has spread despite efforts by local health teams and international organizations such as Doctors Without Borders.
The free movement of people across the border between the DR Congo and Uganda has complicated containment efforts.
Many of the early cases were linked to traditional burial practices and family contacts that facilitated the virus’s spread across porous borders.
U.S. health officials are treating this as a serious but containable threat. The focus now is on rapid testing, contact tracing, and ring vaccination where supplies allow.
The Kenya facility would serve as a safety valve for American citizens working in the region as aid workers, diplomats, business travelers, or journalists.
This government should not allow this facility to be built in Kenya. We know that Ebola has no vaccine or treatment. How can the government allow infected Americans to come to Kenya and get Quarantined while we know that Kenya has no capacity to fight this deadly disease. Why are we are exposing ourselves to this deadly disease. Let the American government build it in their own country. Leaders should know that security of their people is paramount. Greedy/corrupt leaders would allow such a facility to be built in their country. Kenyans/patriots, let us reject this facility to be built here by petitioning the government.