US health cuts and quarantine center raise concerns over Ebola response in Kenya

The third Ebola case in Kenya, a 65-year-old woman, has raised concerns about the US's role in the worsening outbreak. The US has built a controversial quarantine center at Kenya's Laikipia air base, where Americans returning from the Democratic Republic of the Congo are required to quarantine. This center has stirred distrust in the Kenyan government, leading to protests and legal challenges.

The US's sweeping cuts to global health support, including the demolition of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and cuts to funding and staff at health agencies like the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have further complicated the response. The CDC has closed HIV prevention offices in Angola, South Sudan, and plans to close offices in Zimbabwe. These cuts have led to concerns about the ability to prevent and stop outbreaks in affected countries.