Americans exposed to Ebola to get experimental antibody therapy amid Kenya quarantine row

Americans exposed to Ebola to get experimental antibody therapy amid Kenya quarantine row

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the investigational therapy, known as MBP‑134, will be offered to individuals at high risk of exposure.

Americans exposed to Ebola in the ongoing Central Africa outbreak will be eligible for an experimental antibody treatment as part of emergency response measures aimed at strengthening containment.
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the investigational therapy, known as MBP‑134, will be offered to individuals at high risk of exposure.
Developed by Mapp Biopharmaceuticals in the United States (US), the antibody treatment has shown strong protection in animal studies but has not yet completed full clinical trials in humans.
Health authorities said the therapy will be administered under emergency investigational use provisions authorised by the US Food and Drug Administration, which permit unapproved medical products during public health emergencies.
The move comes as the US government continues to coordinate response efforts linked to Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighbouring Uganda.
Advertisement
While the treatment remains in limited supply, officials have not disclosed the number of available doses, citing distribution arrangements managed under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), according to StatNews.
Meanwhile, Laikipia residents have questioned the motive behind establishing a 50‑bed bio‑isolation and quarantine facility in the county for American citizens exposed to Ebola, raising fears about potential health and security risks.
The plan has sparked protests and legal action, with activists securing a court order halting or reviewing aspects of the project amid concerns over safety, transparency and its location.
President William Ruto and the Ministry of Health have defended the project, insisting it is part of the country’s preparedness strategy and linked to the broader “23‑unit” regional containment system designed to strengthen Ebola response and prevent cross‑border spread.
Kenyan and US officials maintain that the centre is intended to improve isolation capacity and enhance outbreak control rather than pose any risk to surrounding communities. The US Embassy in Nairobi described the initiative as part of wider health security cooperation with Kenya.

Comments

0
Loading comments...

Trending

Latest Stories

Popular Stories This Week