Seven Americans quarantining at Kenya Ebola facility after US travel ban, says aid group

Seven American aid workers are currently in quarantine at a new isolation facility in Kenya. These workers had been in Congo, helping to fight a dangerous Ebola outbreak. Their stay in Kenya began after the US government put new travel restrictions in place, making it difficult for them to return home directly. A leader from the US charity that employs them confirmed this information to Reuters.

This isolation facility is the first of its kind to be used by these specific aid workers. However, its construction has caused significant controversy in Kenya. Many local residents and groups strongly opposed the project, and a legal case even led a court to order that construction work be suspended. Despite this court order, US officials and satellite images reviewed by Reuters showed that building continued on the facility.

The workers are completing a period of isolation to ensure public safety, especially given their recent involvement in the Ebola fight. Their situation highlights the challenges faced by humanitarian workers and the complex international responses to health crises like Ebola, which often involve difficult decisions about public health and travel. The fact that construction continued despite a court order also adds to the controversy surrounding the facility and its operations in Kenya.