Americans exposed to Ebola to be sent to Kenya for quarantine

Kenya approved a US request to open a quarantine facility for Americans exposed to Ebola, granting US access to land at an air force base in Laikipia. The outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo involves the rare Bundibugyo strain, with no vaccine or treatment available. Health authorities in Congo and neighboring countries are working to contain the outbreak by identifying and isolating potential cases, but the response is weeks or months behind. The World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern. The US has imposed strict travel-related containment measures, including temporary entry bans for certain Green Card holders who were in nearby affected countries. The planned facility will be staffed by members of the US Public Health Service.

"The US has taken some of the strictest, saying it "cannot and will not allow" any cases of Ebola to enter the country. It temporarily banned the entry of Green Card holders who have been in Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days. The planned facility in Kenya is due to be staffed by members of the US Public Health Service, a uniformed branch of the Department of Health and Human Services."

Read at Irish Independent