Experts raise safety concerns over US Ebola treatment facility

Health workers stand in a new Ebola treatment center during a visit of WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Bunia, northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, on May 31, 2026. [AFP]

As uproar over the setting up of an Ebola isolation and treatment facility in Kenya gains momentum, some health experts are questioning how safe and effective the centre is in preventing exposure of the virus to healthcare workers and the surrounding population.

The experts warn that without proper containment measures, Kenya risks an Ebola outbreak.

The 50-bed facility, intended to serve Americans exposed to Ebola, is set to be established at Laikipia Airbase.

Prof Julius Oyugi, a virologist, said it is vital that all World Health Organisation (WHO) protocols and guidelines for setting up an Ebola isolation and treatment centre are followed.

In an interview with The Standard, Oyugi said WHO guidelines for establishing a quarantine and treatment centre require strict containment and infection prevention control measures.

The protocols, he said, include training healthcare workers in handling Ebola cases. Trained healthcare workers must also be equipped with quality personal protective equipment (PPE).

He added that the measures also require robust infection prevention and control systems within quarantine and treatment facilities to ensure the virus does not spread to other patients or into the community.

Decontamination of samples within the centre must also be strictly observed.

“No liquid or bodily fluid should leave such a facility. This includes waste such as diarrhoea or linen used in patient care,” explained Oyugi.

Such waste, he added, “must undergo a process that kills the virus. This ensures zero environmental escape and no chance of it leaving the isolation centre.”

“If guidelines are followed 100 per cent, and facilities conform to WHO containment protocols, infection prevention control measures, and healthcare workers are adequately trained, the virus will not spill into the public,” said Oyugi.

Giving an example from 2014, Oyugi said an American who travelled from West Africa to the United States while infected with Ebola was placed in quarantine, but two nurses who handled the patient contracted the virus.

This occurred despite strict containment measures that had been put in place in the US.

“There is always a risk of healthcare workers being infected when handling Ebola patients,” warned Oyugi.

The scientist further questioned Kenya’s preparedness and the availability of isolation facilities that meet required standards for managing suspected cases.

“We should be concerned about the potential risk of healthcare workers being infected by Ebola patients,” said Prof Oyugi.

He warned: “This is a real risk, because we have never handled Ebola patients in Kenya.”

On his part, Edwin Walong, a pathologist and senior lecturer at Maseno University School of Medicine, said modern biosafety and biosecurity standards can significantly reduce the chances of the virus spilling into the community.

Dr Walong said such facilities are designed with multiple layers of protection, including high-efficiency air filtration systems and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection technology. 

“If we are looking at modern bio-security and bio-safety standards, we do not expect contaminated waste or effluent to be discharged into the environment,” said Walong.

If strict standards are followed in the structural design and construction of the facility, incorporating all the necessary bio-safety and security measures, risk of the disease remains very low.

The pathologist noted that the greatest risk would be to healthcare workers directly involved in managing Ebola patients, rather than members of the public.

However, he expressed confidence in the capacity of Kenyan health professionals to safely handle such cases.

“We know that Kenyan healthcare workers participated in the 2014 Ebola response in Liberia, Sierra Leone and the DRC, and no Kenyan was infected. This demonstrates that our personnel are highly trained and experienced in managing highly infectious diseases,” he said.

He added that Kenya has more experienced healthcare professionals, including infectious disease specialists, pathologists, laboratory experts and haematologists, capable of safely managing patients within a high-containment facility.

According to the specialist, even if foreign medical teams were involved, local healthcare workers would still play a critical support role.

“We do not expect international teams to operate on their own. There will always be a need for local healthcare workers to support patients management and facility operations,” he said.

Further argued that having a specialised Ebola treatment centre within Africa could prove useful during large outbreaks, when transporting patients across continents becomes difficult and costly. 

Though Kenya has not reported an Ebola case, World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of wide spread of the virus.

Additionally, Africa CDC Director General Dr Jean Kaseya has emphasised effective cross-border surveillance is essential, amid ongoing Ebola outbreak in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus has so far infected more than 1,028 people, with more than 282 suspected deaths, in DRC.

Uganda is also struggling with the outbreak.

“A total of 18 samples from Ebola Virus Disease alerts were tested across various regions including Nairobi, Kiambu, Uasin Gishu, Nyeri, Nakuru, Nyamira, West Pokot, and Kisumu, all of which tested negative,” said Public Health PS Mary Muthoni.

Testing for the highly contagious disease is being conducted by four designated laboratories namely National Public Health Laboratory, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Nairobi and KEMRI Kisumu.

A mobile laboratory has also been installed in Busia, one of high risk counties, to enhance diagnostics.

Risk assessment has identified 25 high-risk counties, with 12 classified as very high risk and 13 as high risk.

The very high-risk counties include Nairobi, Mombasa, Uasin Gishu, Busia, Kisumu, Bungoma, Trans-Nzoia, Siaya, West Pokot, Turkana, Homabay, and Migori. The high-risk counties are Vihiga, Kakamega, Nakuru, Kericho, Nandi, Kiambu, Machakos, Makueni, Kilifi, Taita Taveta, Isiolo, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Garissa.

Further, Muthoni said the ministry has has designated Gate 16 at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for flights coming from Uganda, and DRC, including the high risk neighbouring countries.

Meanwhile, Ebola recoveries of five people in DRC has brought signs of hope in containing the disease, according to WHO.

Scientists are working round the clock to develop a vaccine and drugs for the disease.

Last week, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in Bunia, DRC to coordinate response to Ebola outbreak.