The Trump administration is establishing a 50-bed quarantine and treatment center at Kenya's Laikipia Air Base for Americans exposed to Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), officials confirmed on May 27 and May 28, 2026 [1, 2, 3].
More than 30 U.S. Public Health Service officers with specialized training are deploying to staff the facility, which will quarantine exposed individuals and provide critical care. Decisions on further transport will be made on a case-by-case basis [1, 3].
U.S. officials indicated that sick Americans who test positive for Ebola may be transported to treatment facilities in Europe instead of the United States, claiming that prompt care and faster transport can be provided there [3]. However, some public health experts and other sources noted it is unclear whether patients would be brought back to the US or only to Europe [1, 2, 3].
The US government has banned green card holders and recent travelers from the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan from entering the country amid the ongoing Ebola outbreak, which has approached 1,000 suspected cases regionally [1, 3].
Jennifer Nuzzo, epidemiologist and director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University, criticized the plan. She said, "It is shocking to me that the administration is looking to prevent Americans from coming home to receive the proven world-class care that our taxpayer-funded biocontainment and treatment units are equipped to provide." She added, "There are profound ethical concerns with this approach. Without adequate plans for the safe quarantine of exposed individuals and prompt isolation of those who become infected, I fear these facilities could amplify the spread of the virus." [1]
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the U.S. stance, saying, "Cannot and will not allow any cases of Ebola to enter the United States." [3]
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus critiqued the broader regional situation, stating, "We cannot build community trust or isolate the sick while bombs are falling," highlighting challenges in affected areas [2].
The quarantine site in Kenya is expected to become operational on Friday, May 29, with staff deployments underway as of May 28 [3].
