Kenya Court Halts Ebola Quarantine Center for U.S. Citizens

Hundreds of youth gathered in Nanyuki on Monday to protest plans for an Ebola quarantine center at Laikipia Air Base intended for U.S. citizens exposed to the virus spreading from northeastern Congo. The demonstration followed a Thursday announcement that the U.S. government would establish a facility with 50 quarantine beds by Friday rather than repatriate exposed Americans.

Court suspended the project two days before the protest and scheduled hearings on the petitions for Tuesday. The Katiba Institute and the Kenya Law Society filed the petitions, arguing that Kenya lacks the infrastructure to manage such a facility and that the public would face serious risks.

Kenya’s Health Minister Aden Duale said Sunday the facility would be for “everyone,” not only U.S. citizens. The Kenyan government is in discussions with the U.S. on Ebola preparedness but has not commented on the specific treatment facility.

In northeastern Congo, health workers are responding to an outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has no approved vaccine or treatment. Congo’s health ministry confirmed 101 cases and is monitoring more than 3,000 contacts; the government has recorded over 1,000 suspected cases and at least 220 deaths since the outbreak was declared May 15.

Uganda has confirmed seven cases and one death. U.S. officials have expanded CDC screening at Washington Dulles International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and banned entry for non-U.S. passport or green-card holders who visited Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan in the past 21 days.