Kenya has granted written approval for the United States to establish a quarantine facility within its territory for Americans exposed to the ongoing Ebola centred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
According to U.S. officials familiar with the arrangement, the authorisation provides access to land at an air force base in Laikipia County, located in central Kenya.
Officials from Kenya’s foreign affairs and health ministries have not yet publicly commented on the development.
The facility, once operational, is expected to be staffed by members of the U.S. Public Health Service, which operates under the broader U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Kenya had reportedly advocated for the quarantine facility to accommodate individuals of all nationalities rather than exclusively U.S. citizens, though it remains unclear whether this proposal will be implemented.
In a separate statement, Kenya’s health ministry said it was in discussions with the United States and other international partners regarding cooperation on Ebola response efforts, without specifically confirming the quarantine arrangement.
The move comes as global health authorities respond to new exposures linked to the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has triggered heightened monitoring across multiple countries.
Reports indicate that one American doctor infected with Ebola has been transferred to Germany for treatment and monitoring, while other exposed U.S. citizens have been sent to the Czech Republic for observation.
Another exposed American doctor has also been relocated as part of coordinated international medical response efforts.
The establishment of the facility in Kenya is expected to strengthen containment capacity and provide a regional hub for monitoring and managing potential cases linked to the outbreak.
