Washington.– The United States Government announced this Thursday the launch of a quarantine center in Kenya for US citizens who have been exposed to the Ebola virus abroad, in response to the outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
The facility, located in Kenyan territory, will begin operating this Friday with an initial capacity to accommodate 50 people under medical observation. The plan includes a first quarantine phase for individuals potentially exposed to the virus and a second stage that will include isolation and biocontainment units for those who develop symptoms or test positive.
The U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health and Human Services, Brian Christine, explained that the measure seeks to avoid the immediate transfer of potential cases to U.S. territory and ensure a faster response near the area affected by the outbreak.
More than 30 officers from the United States Public Health Service were deployed to Kenya to operate the center, after receiving specialized training in patient management, quarantine procedures, and biological protection protocols.
US authorities indicated that, should any citizen present symptoms or be diagnosed with Ebola, they will be transferred to specialized medical centers outside the United States, mainly in Europe, instead of being repatriated.
The decision comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) maintains its alert for the Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC, caused by the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no approved vaccine. The outbreak has caused hundreds of cases and dozens of deaths, which has generated international concern and new health control measures in several countries.
However, the project has generated criticism in Kenya, where medical organizations and sectors of civil society question the installation of a center exclusively for US citizens and warn of potential risks to the local health system.
