Kenyan court suspends US plan to build Ebola center
A court ruling halts the project amid objections and concerns.
Written by: Mohammed Omran
A Kenyan court has issued a ruling suspending the United States' plan to establish a quarantine center for patients. Ebola Within Kenyan territory, following a legal challenge that sparked widespread controversy over the project's impact on public health.
Kenyan court suspends US plan to build Ebola center
This decision comes amid political and public controversy in Kenya regarding the reception of people who have been exposed to the virus, which has led the issue to the courts to determine the legality and implementation of the agreement concluded between the two sides.
A court ruling halts the project amid objections and concerns.
A Kenyan court has ordered a temporary halt to the United States' plan to establish a quarantine facility for Ebola patients in the country following a lawsuit alleging the site could endanger public health.
Senior U.S. officials said the 50-bed unit at an air base in central Kenya will serve Americans who have been exposed to the virus but are still asymptomatic, and will begin operating on Friday.
Officials said that patients showing symptoms would be sent for treatment in other countries outside the United States.
The plan to bring in Americans who were exposed to the disease outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has sparked strong opposition among many Kenyans since it was revealed earlier this week.
The Kenyan government gave written approval to the plan on Thursday, but did not address it directly in public statements.
In an order issued late Thursday, Kenyan High Court Justice Patricia Nyaounde barred the government from accepting anyone who had been exposed to or infected with Ebola under the planned agreement until a challenge filed by the Katiba Institute for Legal Defence is resolved.
Nyaundi said the next session will be held on June 2nd.
The Trump administration will not allow Ebola patients to enter US territory.
The administration of US President Donald Trump stated that it “cannot and will not allow” any cases of Ebola virus infection to enter the country, unlike what happened during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa from 2014 to 2016 when many infected American citizens were treated on US soil.
The facility planned for Kenya will include members of the U.S. Public Health Service, a regulatory branch of the Department of Health and Human Services. U.S. officials reported that more than 30 members received three days of training in Washington and then departed for Kenya on Wednesday night.
Kenya has been striving to open the facility to all nationalities, not just American citizens, but it is not yet clear whether that will happen.
The U.S. State Department announced on Thursday that it will allocate $13.5 million to support Kenya's efforts to prepare for the Ebola epidemic.
