US opens Ebola quarantine center in Kenya for citizens abroad

The United States has launched a new strategy to manage American citizens exposed to the Ebola virus in Africa, establishing a quarantine center in Kenya to provide immediate care and avoid lengthy repatriation flights. The facility, set to open Friday, will initially house up to 50 individuals and will later include biocontainment and isolation units for those developing symptoms or testing positive.

This move marks a shift from previous protocols, where exposed individuals were flown directly to specialized medical centers in the U.S. U.S. health officials emphasize that proximity to treatment can be critical for patients. The center's infrastructure was supported by the Department of Defense, and it will be staffed by over 30 Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officers who received specialized training.

The establishment of the Kenyan center comes amid rising concerns over the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The World Health Organization recently elevated the risk assessment for the outbreak to 'very high'. The U.S. Department of State has also coordinated health measures with Mexico and Canada for travelers from high-risk African zones, aiming to protect public health without disrupting trade and travel, particularly with the upcoming World Cup.

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When transferring a person affected by Ebola to a tertiary care center, time can be a critical factor. Therefore, we consider that transporting them to a center located closer to Kenya – instead of flying them to the United States – can be of fundamental importance.