WASHINGTON (Kaab TV) – The administration of Donald Trump is reportedly planning to send American citizens exposed to the Ebola virus abroad to a quarantine and treatment facility in Kenya instead of transporting them back to the United States, according to U.S. officials and multiple international media reports.
The proposed facility is expected to be established through a joint effort involving the U.S. Departments of Defense, State, and Health and Human Services as part of emergency measures responding to the worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
According to reports, the quarantine center would be designed to monitor and treat Americans considered at risk of infection while reducing the need for lengthy medical evacuation flights to the United States. U.S. officials said the move is intended to prevent potential Ebola cases from entering American territory while still providing medical care close to the outbreak zone.
Officials familiar with the plan said the facility may be located at a military-linked site in central Kenya, with U.S. public health officers expected to help staff and manage operations.
The policy marks a major shift from previous American responses to Ebola outbreaks. During the 2014–2015 West Africa Ebola crisis, infected American aid workers and medical personnel were flown back to specialized bio-containment units in the United States for treatment. Under the new approach, exposed or infected Americans would instead remain in Africa for quarantine and medical observation.
The decision comes amid growing international concern over the rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo, which the World Health Organization has described as a major public health emergency. Reports indicate that hundreds of deaths and suspected cases have already been recorded, with fears the outbreak could spread further across the region.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently stated that Washington “cannot and will not allow” Ebola cases to enter the United States, underscoring the administration’s focus on containment measures and border health protections.
The proposed Kenya facility has sparked criticism from some public health experts and humanitarian organizations, who argue that the United States already possesses advanced treatment centers capable of safely handling Ebola patients. Critics warn that keeping exposed Americans outside the country could raise ethical concerns and discourage aid workers from participating in outbreak response missions abroad.
Kenyan authorities have confirmed discussions with U.S. officials regarding Ebola response cooperation, although Nairobi has not publicly released full details of the agreement. Reports indicate that Kenya pushed for any facility established on its territory to potentially support people of multiple nationalities rather than exclusively American citizens.
The latest development also highlights increasing global fears over cross-border transmission of Ebola as governments tighten travel screening procedures and expand emergency preparedness measures.
Health experts say Kenya’s geographic location and transportation links make it strategically important for regional medical and humanitarian operations related to central and eastern Africa. However, some analysts warn that the decision could generate political and public debate within Kenya over the risks associated with hosting a foreign Ebola quarantine facility.
The Trump administration has also introduced additional travel restrictions and health screenings for travelers arriving from countries affected by the outbreak, including Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan.