Workers load World Health Organization (WHO) emergency supplies onto a United Nations plane in Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, May 20, 2026headed for Congo to combat the Ebola outbreak in Ituri province. Andrew Kasuku/AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku
A Kenyan high court has temporarily halted the United States’ intentions to establish an Ebola isolation center within the nation, as indicated by court records.
Judge Patricia Nyaundi stated that individuals who have had contact with or contracted Ebola would be barred from entering the country.
The White House confirmed on Wednesday that the U.S. had been contemplating the creation of a medical facility in Kenya to accommodate American citizens who have been exposed to the Ebola virus in regions affected by the ongoing epidemic.
According to an administration representative, the U.S. intended to set up a “cutting-edge facility” in Kenya “through a collaborative endeavor involving the Departments of State, Health and Human Services, and War.”
The official elaborated that the facility’s purpose and layout were designed to “offer access to superior medical treatment for Americans who would need to depart swiftly” from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for quarantine, and contended that this would diminish the “hazards associated with a prolonged journey back to the U.S.”
Workers load World Health Organization (WHO) emergency supplies onto a United Nations plane in Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, May 20, 2026headed for Congo to combat the Ebola outbreak in Ituri province.Andrew Kasuku/AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku
“Speed is crucial for Ebola patients, and this facility will permit Americans in the region who contract Ebola to obtain life-saving medical attention as rapidly as possible, bypassing over 12 hours of medevac flight time,” the official stated.
The representative further indicated that the treatment capabilities at the Kenyan facility are “anticipated to manage the entire spectrum of Ebola Virus Disease, including critical care requirements,” while also noting that patients would be assessed individually.
However, the Katiba Institute in Kenya is contesting the U.S. proposal, asserting an “immediate danger to life” in Kenya, according to the court submission.
Currently, there are no known new high-risk exposures among Americans.
One American physician is symptom-free while under observation in Prague, and a doctor diagnosed with Ebola, along with his five family members, are being monitored in Germany.
The subsequent court session for this matter is presently scheduled for June 2, as per official court documents.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com