Home / Health / Kenya Court Halts US Ebola Facility Amid Outcry
Kenya Court Halts US Ebola Facility Amid Outcry
14 Jun
Summary
- Kenyan court blocked a US Ebola quarantine facility due to public health concerns.
- Ebola outbreak in DRC has reached 676 confirmed cases and 136 deaths.
- US pledges $112 million to Ebola response and imposed travel restrictions.
A Kenyan court has temporarily blocked the United States from establishing a planned Ebola quarantine facility, responding to public health concerns. This action occurs as the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to spread, with the Ministry of Health reporting 676 confirmed cases and 136 deaths from the Bundibugyo strain. The outbreak now affects 29 health zones across three eastern provinces, primarily in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu. Uganda has also reported 19 confirmed cases and two deaths, mostly linked to travel from the DRC.
The U.S. has committed $112 million to the Ebola response efforts. The administration has also enacted temporary travel bans for individuals without U.S. passports who have recently been in affected countries. The proposed 50-bed quarantine facility in Kenya has faced public backlash, despite defense from the Kenyan president. The U.S. State Department emphasized its priority is protecting American citizens and preventing the outbreak's spread to U.S. shores.
