U.S. Health Authorities deploy Ebola team in Kenya despite court suspension
U.S. Health Authorities deploy Ebola team in Kenya despite court suspension
The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps has announced that it is deploying a specialised Ebola response team to Kenya to support the care, monitoring and quarantine of American citizens returning from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) amid a court suspension.
In a statement sent to CNN on Friday, May 29, U.S. officials confirmed the deployment, saying it is part of a coordinated effort involving the U.S. State Department and the Department of Defense to manage the safe return and monitoring of its nationals that may have been exposed.
“The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps is deploying a team of highly trained officers to Kenya to support the care, monitoring, and quarantine of American citizens departing the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of a coordinated interagency effort with the State Department and Department of War,” the statement read.
The announcement comes shortly after the High Court in Nairobi issued conservatory orders suspending the establishment of a U.S.-funded Ebola quarantine centre in Laikipia County, which will remain in effect as legal proceedings continue on the matter.
The orders followed an urgent petition filed by the Katiba Institute at the Milimani Law Courts seeking to halt implementation of the facility pending determination of the case.
Justice Patricia Nyaundi barred the government from facilitating, approving or permitting any Ebola exposure, quarantine, isolation or treatment centre by the U.S. government or any foreign agency.
Though the deployment signals an advancement in the deal between Kenya and the U.S., the statement does not explicitly mention the facility that has raised public concern over national health security.
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According to U.S. officials, the deployed team includes physicians, nurses, laboratory technologists, mental health professionals and engineers, some of whom were previously involved in Ebola response operations during the 2014–2015 outbreak in Liberia.
Additionally, all personnel have undergone specialised training on protocols and procedures specific to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.
“Personnel have undergone specialized training in PPE, quarantine protocols, and treatment procedures related to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus,” the statement explained.
The statement emphasised that safeguarding both responders and American citizens remains the mission’s top priority.
Meanwhile, Kenya has stepped up outbreak mitigation efforts, including the creation of a National Response Committee and increased surveillance at points of entry.
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