DistantNews
Support us
Suspected Ebola patient put in Equatorial Guinea hotel with deportees from U.S., lawyers say
🇺🇸 United States /Health & Science

Suspected Ebola patient put in Equatorial Guinea hotel with deportees from U.S., lawyers say

From PBS NewsHour · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Migrants deported from the U.S. to Equatorial Guinea claim authorities housed a suspected Ebola patient in their hotel.
  • The deportees, detained under a third-country agreement, reported the patient was placed on a floor below them.
  • Lawyers expressed concern over the quarantine measures and lack of information provided to the detainees.

Migrants deported from the United States to Equatorial Guinea allege that authorities have housed at least one suspected Ebola patient in the same hotel where they are being detained. The facility, located on an island off the country's coast and owned by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, is reportedly holding 17 migrants from various African nations under a deportation agreement.

The central African nation of Congo is currently battling a rare Ebola virus that has killed over 600 in an outbreak first announced in May.

— APProvides background on the Ebola outbreak in neighboring Congo.

According to a coalition of international lawyers and two deportees who spoke anonymously for fear of reprisal, medical personnel in hazmat suits brought a man suspected of having Ebola to the hotel last week. He was allegedly placed on a floor below the detained migrants. The central African nation of Congo is currently experiencing a severe Ebola outbreak, but Equatorial Guinea has not reported any cases.

Two deportees told The Associated Press that a doctor informed them in English that the man was a suspected Ebola patient, advising them to be cautious. However, no further details or protective measures were provided. Lawyers stated they received "disturbing reports from multiple detained individuals that a person with a suspected case of Ebola was recently brought under quarantine into the same hotel complex where they are being held."

disturbing reports from multiple detained individuals that a person with a suspected case of Ebola was recently brought under quarantine into the same hotel complex where they are being held.

— Coalition of international lawyersExpresses concern over the quarantine situation in the hotel.

One deportee also mentioned a woman was brought to the quarantine floor on Sunday, identified by medical staff as another suspected Ebola patient. Videos reviewed by the AP appear to show medical personnel in full protective gear transporting patients to the hotel, which previously served as a COVID-19 isolation center. Detainees report worsening conditions, confusion, and a lack of communication and basic hygiene supplies.

Things are getting worse every day. It's very confusing, no one is coming to talk to us. No one is informing us of anything. The hygiene is unimaginable.

— DeporteeDescribes the deteriorating conditions and lack of information for detainees.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by PBS NewsHour. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog