Saturday, June 06,
2026 - The United States has redirected its Ebola response strategy to
domestic emergency systems, as plans to establish a quarantine facility in
Kenya stall amid legal and political challenges.
The shift follows a High Court order in Nairobi halting
construction of a U.S-backed isolation centre at Laikipia Airbase in Nanyuki.
The court suspended the project pending determination of a
constitutional petition that questioned its legality, transparency and public
participation, while raising concerns over governance and biosecurity.
U.S health officials confirmed the country has instead
activated its network of specialised treatment centres designed to handle high‑risk
infectious diseases.
Developed after the 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak, the
system comprises 13 Government‑supported hospitals and academic medical
centres.
At least 10 of these facilities are fully prepared to
isolate and treat patients exposed to Ebola or other viral hemorrhagic fevers,
according to Reuters.
The U.S Department of Health and Human Services has
emphasised that these hospitals remain on standby, capable of safely managing
suspected or confirmed cases.
This position appears to contradict earlier remarks from the
U.S State Department that no Ebola patients would be admitted into the country,
comments that drew criticism, particularly from Kenya.
Meanwhile, tensions in Kenya escalated after the High
Court’s suspension of the Laikipia project.
The court directed the Government to disclose all agreements
and operational details before any further steps.
Protests erupted outside Laikipia Airbase, where
demonstrators opposed the facility.
At least two people were shot dead during the unrest,
underscoring the controversy surrounding the proposed quarantine site.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
0 Comments