Construction of US-backed Ebola facility in Kenya halted, minister says

Kenya's health minister said on Tuesday he ​had ordered an immediate halt to the construction ‌of a U.S.-backed Ebola quarantine facility at an air base after he was found guilty of contempt of court for failing to observe ​suspension orders.

Health Minister Aden Duale was appearing before ​a Kenyan court that has blocked construction of the ⁠tented facility near the central town of Nanyuki, which ​has seen deadly protests over the plan.

The facility is intended ​to host Americans exposed to Ebola during an ongoing outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo, which has recorded over 1,000 cases.

Satellite imagery from ​June 22 reviewed by Reuters showed a build-up of ​tents, an increase in the amount of area paved, and progress in ‌construction ⁠including structures that appeared to be containers, compared with images reviewed earlier in the month.

In her sentencing, Justice Patricia Nyaundi Mande warned Duale against further disobedience and discharged him ​with no ​punishment.

Flights carrying medical ⁠equipment and specialist staff have continued to arrive at the air base despite the court ​orders, according to flight-tracking data and U.S. and ​diplomatic ⁠sources.

A U.S. official told Reuters last week that planes were continuing to land at the air base carrying supplies for ⁠the ​facility, while staff were being trained ​on site.

-Reuters