Kenyan Court Extends Block on US Ebola Quarantine Center

A Kenyan court on Tuesday extended an order blocking a proposed US Ebola quarantine center for American citizens.

The controversial plan to build the 50-bed center at an air base in the central town of Nanyuki triggered protests this week. Hundreds of people clashed with security forces near the site, which they argue could expose them to Ebola.

"I can assure the people of Kenya that the agreement between the government of Kenya and the American government is for the good of our country and for the partnership," Kenyan President William Ruto said. "We are a responsible government. We know what we are doing. So people should relax."

Last week, a court temporarily suspended plans for the facility after an advocacy group filed a lawsuit alleging the center was being constructed in secret.

On Tuesday, Kenyan High Cout judge Patricia Nyaundi issued an order barring the Kenyan government from taking any further steps to begin operations at the facility before the case is resolved. She also ordered the government to disclose its agreement with Washington within seven days.

What is the proposed facility?

The quarantine center at the Laikipia Air Base, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the capital, Nairobi, was supposed to open last week, according to US officials.

The plan angered some Kenyans after the administration of US President Donald Trump said it "cannot and will not allow" any Ebola cases to enter the US, and that instead they would be quarantined in Kenya.

The proposed center in Nanyuki would be run by US medical staff and be used to treat Americans who have been exposed to the virus in central Africa but are not showing symptoms. Patients who are exhibiting symptoms would be sent to other countries for care, according to US officials.

Kenya has not recorded any Ebola cases, but neighboring Uganda has logged several cases and one death since an outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of Congo in mid-May.

WHO revises down cases and deaths

Health workers have been working to contain the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in eastern Congo, with experts warning the virus was probably circulating undetected for weeks before the first cases were confirmed.

After putting the number of suspected cases at more than 900 last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday revised that number down to 116. It said there were now 330 confirmed cases.

When asked to explain the massive drop, WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said many cases "have been cleared out" after being shown to be other diseases or an unlinked fever.

He said there had been 48 deaths from the virus in Congo, and one death in neighboring Uganda.

Main airport opens in Ituri

Meanwhile, the main airport in Ituri, the eastern Congo province hardest-hit by the outbreak, reopened on Tuesday after a 10-day closure, a government statement said.

Authorities suspended all passenger flights to and from the airport in the provincial capital, Bunia, on May 23, citing safety reasons. Only medical and humanitarian flights were allowed to continue.

The Transport Ministry said authorities had assessed how the outbreak was being monitored and decided "conditions are now in place for a gradual and safe resumption of flights."

The ministry said all passengers would have their body temperatures screened before boarding and on arrival. It added that passengers would also be required to wash their hands before traveling.

Edited by: Wesley Rahn