NAIROBI, Kenya — The Trump administration is preparing to deploy United States (US) public health officers to Kenya to staff a potential quarantine facility as regional concern grows over the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to reports citing individuals familiar with the plan, the proposed facility, pending approval from the Kenyan government as of Tuesday, May 26, 2026, would be used to monitor and treat American citizens who have been exposed to the virus or are considered at high risk of infection while in the region.
The facility is also expected to accommodate individuals who test positive for the virus, in line with broader containment and evacuation protocols being developed by US health authorities.
Members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, a uniformed branch under the Department of Health and Human Services, have reportedly already received deployment notices, signalling operational readiness for the mission.
The White House and the United States Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the planned deployment.
The move comes as health agencies intensify efforts to contain a fast-spreading outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in parts of the DRC and Uganda.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, citing elevated transmission risks and cross-border implications.
Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, with outbreaks requiring strict isolation, surveillance, and infection-control measures.
Earlier reports indicated that the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had asked staff to volunteer for urgent deployment to support screening operations at US entry points, including enhanced monitoring of travellers arriving from affected regions.
CDC officials have maintained that no Ebola cases have been confirmed in the United States and that the risk to the general public remains low.
In the DRC, health authorities have reported more than 900 suspected cases, including over 100 confirmed infections and rising fatalities, according to the latest available data from international health agencies.
Uganda has also confirmed multiple Ebola cases linked to cross-border transmission, heightening regional concern in East Africa.
If approved, Kenya would host a specialised quarantine and treatment arrangement for US nationals—an arrangement that could raise public concern in a country that has previously served as a regional transit and response hub during global health emergencies.
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US officials are also reportedly training several dozen Public Health Service officers for deployment, tasked with providing clinical care and monitoring for Americans deemed at high risk of infection.
Additional measures under consideration include mandatory enhanced screening for travellers who have been in affected countries within 21 days of entry into the United States, with processing expected at major ports of entry such as Washington Dulles International Airport.
Health experts note that while imported cases in high-income countries remain rare, cross-border coordination and rapid isolation capacity are critical in preventing wider international spread, particularly in outbreaks involving highly virulent pathogens such as Ebola.
