Kenyan Court Halts U.S. Ebola Quarantine Facility Plan

A Kenyan High Court, presided over by Judge Patricia Nyaundi, has suspended a U.S. plan to create an Ebola quarantine facility in Kenya. This decision follows a written approval from the Kenyan government earlier in the week, which did not address public concerns.

The court's ruling bars the government from admitting anyone exposed to the Ebola virus until a challenge brought by the Katiba Institute, a legal advocacy group, is resolved. The next hearing is scheduled for June 2.

The U.S. administration under President Donald Trump has stated that it cannot allow Ebola cases to enter the country, contrasting with the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The facility was intended to serve not only U.S. citizens but also others exposed to the outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

Health experts have warned that the actual number of cases and deaths may be higher due to late detection and difficulties in tracing contacts amid ongoing conflict in the region.