U.S. Builds Ebola Quarantine Site in Kenya, Aiming to Isolate Exposed Americans Near Outbreak Zone
The United States is quietly setting up a quarantine facility in Kenya for Americans who may have been exposed to Ebola or infected with the deadly virus, multiple officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed to CBS News on Wednesday. The facility, located near the border of the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is part of a broader effort to contain the disease before it can enter the U.S.
A Trump administration official told CBS News the site is designed to provide high-quality care for Americans who need to quickly leave Congo and quarantine without undergoing a lengthy, risky medevac flight back to the United States. Treatment capabilities at the facility are expected to cover the full spectrum of the disease, including critical care needs, though each case will be evaluated for further transport if necessary, the official said.
Another administration official described the facility as intended for “asymptomatic individuals” who may have been exposed, in cooperation with the Kenyan government. The plan was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from some public health experts. A former CDC official who previously worked on Ebola response called the plan “unbelievably unethical and irresponsible,” arguing that Kenya lacks a proper Level 4 containment facility and has limited experience handling Ebola cases. “Marooning Americans there is not a viable solution,” the former official told CBS News.
More than 230 people in Congo are believed to have died from the latest outbreak, which began in late 2024. The World Health Organization has classified the outbreak as a high-risk event for the region, with cases spreading to urban areas.
During a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored the administration’s resolve. “We cannot and will not allow any cases of Ebola to enter the United States,” Rubio said, adding that multiple agencies are working to contain the outbreak where it currently sits.
The first Trump administration official emphasized the facility’s life-saving potential. “This will enable Americans in the region who contract Ebola to receive care as quickly as possible without having to spend over 12 hours on a medevac flight,” the official said. Each patient will be assessed for possible transport to a higher-level facility if needed.
The debate comes as an American doctor who was infected with Ebola while working with a medical missionary group in Congo continues treatment in Germany. Speaking from a hospital there last week, he said he felt “cautiously optimistic” about his recovery.
The Kenya quarantine site marks the first time the U.S. has established such a facility outside its borders during an active outbreak. Critics argue it sidesteps legal and ethical obligations to bring Americans home, while supporters say it balances public health priorities with rapid response. The situation is expected to evolve as the outbreak unfolds.