Senior administration officials announced a new approach for treating Americans who contract Ebola. Instead of bringing them to the U.S., those needing advanced medical care will be sent to Europe. This decision aligns with ongoing efforts to prevent bringing infected individuals into the U.S., amid an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A facility has been established in Kenya to manage Americans exposed to Ebola. Opening with 50 quarantine beds, it aims to expand by adding isolation and biocontainment units. Individuals who test positive will not remain in Kenya nor return to the U.S. Instead, they will receive care in unspecified European countries.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of State are working together to identify suitable facilities in Europe.
The administration cited shorter flight times to Europe as a reason for this strategy. A surgeon who tested positive was previously flown to Germany for treatment.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the determination to keep Ebola out of the U.S. The CDC has restricted entry for noncitizens from Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan who were there in the past 21 days.
A senior official assured that U.S. citizens would receive top-tier medical care. U.S. doctors are already positioned in the Kenyan facility and Germany where the infected doctor is being treated. The quarantine camp in Kenya is situated at the Laikipia Air Base. The U.S. Public Health Service, including experienced Ebola caregivers from the 2014 Liberia outbreak, will staff the facility.
The World Health Organization reports the outbreak in Congo involves the Bundibugyo strain, responsible for 1,077 cases and 246 deaths. No vaccine or treatment exists for this strain.
Recently, seven Americans exposed to Ebola in Congo were evacuated to Europe. This group includes the doctor in Germany, whose family is under quarantine there, and another doctor quarantining in the Czech Republic.
Officials noted they are unaware of additional exposed Americans requiring transfer to Kenya at this time.
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