Health

Trump Directs U.S. Military to Build Ebola Quarantine Facilities in Kenya in 7 Days

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12 hours ago Scott

The United States government is preparing to set up an Ebola quarantine facility in central Kenya as cases of the deadly virus continue rising in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

According to reports from international media, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump plans to use the facility to house and monitor Americans who may have been exposed to Ebola while in affected regions.

Sources familiar with the plan revealed that the project will include a 50-bed field hospital, expected to be operational within one week. Officials are also planning for future expansion to accommodate up to 250 beds if the situation worsens.

The temporary medical facility is expected to use prefabricated structures that can be easily transported by truck and aircraft.

Reports by the Washington Post indicate that the project is being coordinated by several U.S. government departments, including the Department of State, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Defense.

U.S. officials reportedly chose Kenya because of its strategic location and easier transport connections from the DRC compared to taking patients directly to America.

One U.S. official stated that the Kenya facility will help Americans receive quick medical care and quarantine services without facing long travel risks back to the United States.

Several Americans exposed to Ebola have already been evacuated from the region. Reports show that one American doctor was treated in Germany, while six other people were transferred to Germany and the Czech Republic for monitoring.

Authorities have also confirmed that one American citizen tested positive for Ebola while in the DRC. However, officials have not confirmed whether more U.S. citizens have contracted the virus.

The development comes after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday, May 27, that no person infected with Ebola would be allowed into the United States, including American citizens. The U.S. government has also increased health screening at airports and border entry points.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that members of the U.S. Public Health Service have already started training at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland before deployment to Kenya.

However, some U.S. military officials are said to be concerned that the three-day training period may not be enough to fully prepare workers for Ebola response operations.

In Kenya, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale recently assured the public that the country is fully prepared to deal with any possible Ebola outbreak.

Speaking on May 27, Duale said Kenya has activated its national Incident Management System, strengthened surveillance at entry points, prepared laboratories for Ebola testing, and improved coordination between national and county governments.