US shifts Ebola treatment policy for Americans in Kenya
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday that Americans who test positive for Ebola while under observation at a facility in Kenya may be flown to the United States for treatment, marking a departure from the previous administration’s stance prohibiting any entry of infected individuals into the country, reports BritPanorama.
Rubio clarified during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing that the US is not asking Kenya to establish a treatment facility for Americans. Instead, he stated, “There is a facility that the Kenyans are allowing us to open. If there are any Americans that are exposed, potentially exposed, they will be transferred to this facility for observation.”
He elaborated further, “If they test positive at any time while in that facility, we will remove them from Kenya and send them to the nearest treatment facility, either in Europe or in the home – or in the United States, to be treated for Ebola.” However, Rubio did not provide additional specifics about the transition process for patients.
The establishment of a US facility in Kenya has faced considerable criticism, with Rubio having assured last week that “we cannot and will not allow any cases of Ebola to enter the United States.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services and the State Department have been contacted for clarification on Rubio’s comments, with no immediate response reported. According to guidance from the State Department, US citizens at high risk but asymptomatic may be subjected to a 21-day quarantine and can access medical care.
Furthermore, if any US citizen shows symptoms while in quarantine, they may be evacuated for necessary treatment, although the guidance refrains from specifying the locations where treatment would occur.
The situation underscores the ongoing challenges posed by Ebola outbreaks, especially concerning the balance between public health safety and the treatment of affected individuals. The evolving policy reflects a newfound willingness to address potential cases more comprehensively. Further updates are anticipated as the situation develops.
