NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya’s Ministry of Health (MoH) has confirmed that it is engaged in discussions with the United States government on strengthening the country’s Ebola preparedness and global health response systems, amid growing controversy over reports that Americans exposed to the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could be transferred to Kenya for treatment.
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In a statement shared through the ministry’s official X account, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said Kenya and the United States are currently holding bilateral talks focused on global health cooperation, including Ebola response mechanisms.
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The statement follows reports by international media organizations, including Reuters and The New York Times, indicating that the US government is considering relocating American citizens and migrants exposed to Ebola in the DRC to Kenya for specialized treatment and isolation.
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The reported move comes after the Trump administration imposed a Title 43 restriction limiting entry into the United States for immigrants and citizens who had recently travelled to the DRC and were potentially exposed to the virus.
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According to Ministry of Health epidemiologist Oscar Gaunya, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) remains one of the world’s deadliest viral infections.
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“EVD is a haemorrhagic fever caused by a filovirus. Its natural reservoir is fruit bats that harbour the virus, resulting in spillover to human transmission,” Gaunya explained.
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He noted that the disease has an incubation period of up to 21 days and can cause severe internal and external bleeding, organ failure, and high fever.
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“It can kill the patient if left untreated,” he warned.
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The outbreak in the DRC has already recorded more than 900 cases and 223 deaths, while neighbouring Uganda has confirmed 112 cases and 11 fatalities linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
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The escalating regional crisis prompted the World Health Organization to declare the outbreaks in Uganda and the DRC a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has also classified the situation as a Public Health Event of Continental Security.
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Amid heightened public concern, Duale said Kenya has intensified surveillance and screening measures at all major points of entry.
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“So far, over 55,000 travellers have been screened in the exercise coordinated through the Kenya National Public Health Institute under the fully activated National Incident Management System,” he stated.
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The Health CS added that 10 suspected Ebola cases had already undergone testing in Kenya, with all results returning negative.
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Duale sought to reassure Kenyans that any cooperation agreements with the United States would strictly comply with Kenyan laws and biosafety regulations.
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“Any resulting health cooperation would strictly be guided by Kenyan laws and biosafety regulations,” he said, adding that the protection of Kenyans and healthcare workers would remain a top priority.
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Despite the reassurances, the developments have triggered widespread debate across social media platforms, with many Kenyans questioning why discussions surrounding the potential transfer of Ebola-exposed individuals to Kenya were not publicly disclosed earlier.
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Critics have also raised concerns over reports suggesting that the US may support the construction of a specialized Ebola isolation facility in Kenya.
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While Duale neither confirmed nor denied the existence of such plans, he maintained that all decisions would prioritize national safety and public health preparedness.
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The Ministry of Health has not released further details regarding the scope of the proposed US-Kenya health partnership or whether formal agreements have already been signed.
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