US Embassy: Laikipia quarantine facility will not expose Kenyans to Ebola

In a communiqué on Wednesday, the Embassy said that all health security protocols are being observed and measures to tame any spread of the virus are being enhanced in collaboration with the Kenyan government.

"The bio-isolation facility in Laikipia is part of a holistic response to prevent spread of the disease and lessen health risks for the region as a whole; it does not pose risk to nearby communities," the Embassy noted.

The Embassy added that the U.S is working with Kenya to enhance border detection, provide accurate testing, and bolster the response in high-risk counties. 

It added that the health partnership shared between the two governments will allow the expansion of regional capacity to isolate and test asymptomatic individuals, including Americans working on the response effort.

The Embassy also remained optimistic that the court action blocking the establishment of the facility would be resolved.

Kenya's High Court extended the freeze order on Tuesday, directing the government to provide the full terms of any agreement, memorandum, arrangement, or negotiations concerning the proposed facility.

The court also ordered the disclosure of any public health, environmental, biosafety, or security assessments undertaken in relation to the project, as well as any approvals obtained from Parliament, relevant regulatory agencies, or county governments.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Head of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in the United States, has said that Kenya is the most ideal place to set up an Ebola quarantine facility for its citizens because of its proximity to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The outbreak of the virus was reported on May 15 in DRC and has claimed 48 lives so far out of 321 confirmed cases.

The Ministry of Health in Uganda has also reported fifteen cases and one fatality.

Kenya's government has announced it will start demanding exit surveillance reports for all travellers coming into the country, certified by authorities from the origin country.

They will also be required to produce a detailed screening report that must be shared with the airlines they have travelled with or the bus companies from neighbouring nations.