U.S. to send Americans exposed to Ebola to makeshift hospital in Kenya
The White House confirmed Wednesday that the U.S. is setting up a health facility in Kenya to treat Americans exposed to Ebola during the ongoing outbreak in affected regions.
An administration official said the U.S. will establish a “state-of-the-art facility” in Kenya through a coordinated effort involving the Departments of State, Health and Human Services, and War.
The official said the facility is designed to give Americans in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) rapid access to high-quality quarantine and treatment care, reducing the risks tied to transporting patients back to the U.S.
“Time is of the essence for Ebola patients, and this facility will enable Americans in the region who contract Ebola to receive lifesaving care as quickly as possible without 12-plus hours of medevac flight time,” the official said.
The official added that the Kenya facility is expected to handle the full spectrum of Ebola Virus Disease, including critical care needs, though patients could still be transferred elsewhere for more advanced treatment on a case-by-case basis.
The president previously invoked Title 42 authority barring entry for non-citizens, with some exceptions, who visited the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days. Last week, the order was expanded to include green card holders.
American citizens returning from those countries are being routed through specific airports for enhanced screening, including John F. Kennedy International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
The announcement came after the New York-based International Rescue Committee warned Tuesday that the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda is spreading faster than responders can contain it, with more than 900 suspected cases and at least 223 deaths already reported, including in major transport hubs like Goma and Kampala.
