Kenya Set to Host Americans Exposed to Ebola Under New Trump Plan

U.S President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to send Americans exposed to the Ebola virus to Kenya for monitoring and possible treatment instead of bringing them back to the United States.

According to reports by The New York Times and Reuters, the plan is different from how past U.S. governments handled Ebola outbreaks, where Americans exposed to or infected with the virus were usually flown back to the United States for treatment in special hospitals.

The reported plan comes as health officials work to control a fast-spreading Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has already recorded more than 1,000 suspected cases and over 200 deaths just days after the outbreak was announced.

Trump Administration Considers Treating Ebola-Exposed Americans in Kenya

Reports say the U.S. government is planning to establish a quarantine and treatment centre in Kenya with support from the State Department, the Department of Defence, and the Department of Health and Human Services.

The facility is expected to host Americans who may have been exposed to Ebola or those who test positive while in the region.

According to Reuters, some officers from the U.S. Public Health Service have already been told to prepare for deployment to support the planned facility.

At first, the Trump administration reportedly planned to monitor exposed Americans in Kenya and transfer anyone who developed symptoms to hospitals in Europe for treatment.

However, newer reports suggest treatment could also be provided in Kenya, including for U.S. government scientists and health workers who may become infected.

Following the reports’ emergence, the White House and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have not yet publicly commented on the matter.

Also Read: Rwanda Introduces New Travel Measures Following Ebola Outbreak Concern

Ebola Outbreak Continues to Grow

The outbreak is mainly affecting Ituri Province in eastern Congo, an area facing insecurity and heavy population movement, making it harder for health officials to control the disease.

So far, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

About the Disease

According to the WHO, Ebola is a rare but serious disease caused by viruses from the Orthoebolavirus family and can often be fatal if not treated early.

The disease was first recorded in 1976 in what is now South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo near the Ebola River, where the disease got its name.

Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood, body fluids, or organs of infected people or animals. People can also get infected by touching contaminated objects or taking part in burial ceremonies involving infected bodies.

Also Read: DRC Football Team Isolated Over Ebola Fears Ahead of World Cup in the U.S

Symptoms can appear between two and 21 days after infection and include fever, fatigue, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach pain. In severe cases, patients may suffer internal or external bleeding.

Early treatment and supportive care, such as rehydration and symptom management, can greatly improve survival.

To control outbreaks, WHO recommends rapid case identification, contact tracing, isolation of infected patients, safe burials, community awareness, and strong infection prevention measures in health facilities.

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A collage of U.S. President Donald Trump and Red Cross workers disinfecting Rwampara General Hospital in Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of Congo, before handling the body of an Ebola victim on May 21, 2026. PHOTO/White House/Reuters