U.S. Sets Up Ebola Quarantine Center in Kenya

The Trump administration opened a quarantine and treatment center at Laikipia Air Base in central Kenya on Friday for U.S. citizens who may have been exposed to Ebola while in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or neighboring countries. The facility will allow exposed Americans to complete the 21-day incubation period or receive initial care before any decision on further transport.

Officials said some patients could later move to tertiary centers for more intensive treatment.

A White House official said the center provides high-quality care without the risks of lengthy transport back to the United States. The same official added that each case will be evaluated individually for possible forward movement to maximize patient outcomes. The center will begin operations on Friday and will also treat Americans who contract the virus, according to the official.

The administration has banned green card holders who recently traveled in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan from entering the United States. Other recent travelers to those countries face similar entry restrictions. On Thursday, the State Department announced an additional $80 million in funding to help affected nations purchase protective equipment, conduct border screening, trace contacts, and obtain testing supplies.

The total U.S. commitment now stands at that new figure plus prior amounts.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported 121 confirmed cases and 17 deaths, along with 1,077 suspected cases and 238 deaths in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces. Uganda has recorded seven confirmed cases, including one death. The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo virus strain, for which no vaccine exists.

Officials described the speed and intensity of transmission as alarming.

Rubio said at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting that protecting Americans is the top foreign-policy goal. He stated the administration will not allow any Ebola cases to enter the United States.

“The number one priority of our foreign policy is to protect the American people. We cannot and will not allow any cases of Ebola to enter the United States.”