Kenyan court blocks US plan to open Ebola quarantine center to treat Americans

In Central Africa, authorities are still struggling to control an Ebola epidemic with more than 900 suspected cases. A Kenyan court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s plan to open a quarantine center there to treat Americans exposed to or infected by the virus. William Brangham discussed the latest news with Dr Craig Spencer, who contracted Ebola during an outbreak in 2014.

Amna Nawaz:

In Central Africa, officials and health workers are still struggling to control the deadly Ebola epidemic. There are now more than 900 suspected cases and more than 220 suspected deaths. Authorities fear the real figures are significantly higher.

Geoff Bennett:

And today, a Kenyan court temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s plan to open a quarantine center there to treat Americans exposed to or infected by the virus.

William Brangham has more.

William Brangham:

That’s right, Geoff.

Kenyan officials had initially approved the Ebola center plan requested by the Trump administration. But local reactions gave rise to a legal challenge aimed at stopping this project. According to today’s decision, this establishment must remain closed until the court hears the case next week.

To learn more about all of this, we’re joined again by Dr. Craig Spencer. He is an associate professor of public health and emergency medicine at Brown University. He worked in West Africa during the 2014 outbreak and was an Ebola survivor himself.

Craig Spencer, it’s great to have you back on the program.

About this Kenyan quarantine facility, you wrote that it was an abdication of American responsibility to possibly send Americans there. How so?

Dr. Craig Spencer:

Well, over the past year we have seen an abdication of American leadership on the world stage. And I think we’re seeing the consequences of that now in terms of the response in eastern Congo.

But this detail, not only that this is a quarantine center, but that the United States is also planning to treat American citizens infected with Ebola in this facility that they are creating in Kenya, is an abdication, because I fear that there is no way that in a few weeks or even a few months they will be able to maintain the quality of care that is necessary to really take care of a very sick Ebola patient.

And I’m also worried, because over the last decade, the only real good thing that has come out of my illness has been the fact that we have built and maintained a system of specialized treatment centers throughout the United States capable of handling patients exactly like this.

Right now, those are empty, and I would be saddened if those continue to remain empty when we have Americans who need this type of treatment, this type of specialized treatment. Instead of having them treated in a new facility overseas, I think they should receive this treatment here at home.

William Brangham:

So, given that, do you feel like this decision was more out of public fear than medical necessity?

Dr. Craig Spencer:

What concerns me is that over the last few weeks, we have unfortunately seen this administration’s priorities reversed in terms of what I think we need to focus on to truly end this epidemic.

We heard that the first priority was to keep Ebola out of the country at all costs and that the second priority was to end the epidemic in Congo. The problem, of course, is that we won’t be able to truly prevent Ebola from coming to the United States, even with all the travel restrictions, or any other type of ban, if we can’t actually end the outbreak on the ground in Congo.

William Brangham:

This Kenyan facility is actually just for the few Americans who might be exposed, again, totally separate from the much larger population of people who are currently battling this outbreak.

How do you feel about the way things are going there today?

Dr. Craig Spencer:

I will say that there has been a lot of focus on this treatment center in Kenya and access for Americans, but my biggest concern about all of this is actually the focus and resources that it takes away from the quality of care that we are actually able to provide to the hundreds and probably eventually thousands of patients who will be treated and need high-quality care for Ebola over the coming weeks and months.

I would like us to focus our attention, our financial, logistical and human resources, on ensuring that we are able to not just create a third-tier system between what we can offer to the United States, what is offered on the ground now, and what could be offered to American citizens.

I would like us to focus on raising the level and improving the quality of care for everyone affected by Ebola in the region. This is the only way to convince people that they can go to these facilities and receive good quality care. This is the only way to ensure that communities will participate in our response activities.

And, ultimately, this is the only way to end this epidemic, which not only lessens the suffering in the region, but also reduces the risk of cases being imported, not only to the countries surrounding Congo, but also to the United States.

William Brangham:

You mentioned all the criticism about the cuts to the CDC and USAID and the withdrawal of the WHO.

The CDC says this is the case and is currently looking into the matter. Do you believe this to be true?

Dr. Craig Spencer:

We’ve seen over the last two weeks that the U.S. response has significantly intensified in terms of sending people, money and resources. However, I still think this is only a fraction of what we needed and what we would have sent in previous outbreaks.

And I still think our priorities are reversed. I would like us to focus more on ending the outbreak at its source, primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo, than on what I view as the number one priority of this administration, which is doing everything it can to keep Americans out, including, unfortunately, if that means Americans who might be infected with Ebola and need access to our treatment centers here at home.

William Brangham:

Dr. Craig Spencer from Brown University, it’s always a pleasure to hear from you. THANKS.

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