The United States and Kenya are discussing plans to establish a quarantine facility for Americans potentially exposed to Ebola during the worsening outbreak centred on the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a US official familiar with the talks.
The proposed facility, which has yet to receive approval from Nairobi, would reportedly be staffed by officers from the US Public Health Service, a uniformed branch operating under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Reuters first reported the discussions on Wednesday, citing a US official speaking anonymously because of the sensitivity of the matter.
The proposal reflects growing concern among governments over the spread of the rare Bundibugyo strain across Central and East Africa, as authorities move to strengthen border screening and emergency response measures.
Kenya weighs quarantine proposal
Kenya’s government is said to be considering the proposal while also seeking additional foreign assistance as part of any agreement with Washington.
The exact location of the proposed quarantine centre has not been disclosed, and Kenyan officials have so far offered limited public comment on the discussions.
Korir Sing’oei, a senior official in Kenya’s foreign ministry, told Reuters he had not been fully briefed on the proposal and was unaware of any formal request linked to increased assistance.
The White House and HHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The development follows a report by The Wall Street Journal that President Donald Trump’s administration was preparing to deploy American public health officers to Kenya to manage a potential quarantine operation.
Outbreak spreads across region
The discussions come as health authorities intensify efforts to contain a worsening Ebola outbreak involving the rare Bundibugyo strain in both DR Congo and neighbouring Uganda.
The World Health Organisation has raised concerns over the outbreak and intensified international monitoring efforts as fears grow over possible cross-border transmission.
Ebola is a highly infectious disease spread through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected individuals. Symptoms can include fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and internal bleeding, with severe cases often proving fatal.
According to the latest figures released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DR Congo has recorded 906 suspected Ebola cases, including 105 confirmed infections, alongside more than 220 suspected deaths, though only 10 fatalities have been laboratory confirmed.
Uganda has confirmed seven Ebola cases and one death, with officials indicating that most infections are linked to the original transmission chain.
CDC mobilises emergency response
In response to the escalating outbreak, the CDC has reportedly asked staff to volunteer for urgent deployment assignments aimed at strengthening Ebola screening procedures at US entry points.
An internal CDC email seen by Reuters showed the agency seeking personnel to support enhanced monitoring measures designed to prevent imported infections.
Despite the outbreak in Central and East Africa, US authorities maintain that no Ebola cases have been confirmed within the United States and that the risk to the general public remains low.
Still, the possible establishment of a quarantine facility in Kenya signals mounting concern within Washington over the outbreak’s trajectory and the risk of wider international spread.
Kenya, a major regional transport and diplomatic hub with strong air links across Africa and beyond, has historically played an important logistical role during regional health emergencies. Public health experts say its infrastructure and international connectivity make it a strategic location for emergency response coordination.
Regional systems face pressure
The outbreak is placing renewed pressure on already strained healthcare systems in parts of East and Central Africa, where authorities continue to grapple with limited medical resources and surveillance challenges.
International health agencies are also racing to improve border monitoring, contact tracing and public awareness campaigns in an effort to contain the virus before it spreads further across the region.
Analysts say any formal US-Kenya arrangement could become part of a broader international strategy aimed at isolating potential cases quickly while protecting healthcare systems from becoming overwhelmed.
