The facility, located about 200 km (125 miles) north of Nairobi, was being developed to accommodate potential U.S. citizens evacuated from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is battling a significant Ebola outbreak. The center was designed with approximately 50 isolation beds and was expected to be operated by U.S. medical personnel.

The project has triggered strong public opposition since its announcement in May, with critics questioning both the decision-making process and the prospect of hosting individuals potentially exposed to Ebola in a country that has never recorded a confirmed case of the disease.

Rights organizations petitioned Kenya’s High Court, arguing that authorities had proceeded with the project without adequate public consultation or transparency. The court subsequently ordered a suspension of work, but government agencies continued preparations at the site.

On Monday, the court ruled that Duale was in contempt for failing to comply with or respond to the earlier order and directed him to appear for sentencing.

Appearing before the court on Tuesday, Duale apologized and said he had instructed officials to cease all activities linked to the facility.

“I have directed the immediate and complete cessation of any intended construction, site preparation, or related activities concerning the Laikipia Air Base facility pending the hearing and determination of the substantive petition or until further orders of this court,” Duale told the court.

The controversy has fueled protests in Laikipia County, where demonstrators have voiced concerns about public health risks and government transparency. According to authorities, three people have been killed during unrest linked to opposition to the project.

The United States has pledged $13.5 million to strengthen Kenya’s Ebola preparedness and response capabilities. However, opponents of the quarantine center have also criticized what they describe as unequal arrangements that would see Kenya host a facility intended for foreign evacuees.

The legal challenge against the project remains before the court, which will determine whether the facility can proceed once the substantive petition is heard.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s office said on Tuesday that members of the army, navy and air force would join a specialized task force responsible for identifying and eliminating mosquito breeding grounds across the country.

The move comes as health authorities reported nearly 50,000 dengue infections and 29 related deaths so far this year. While the figures remain below the country’s record 2017 outbreak, officials warned that the recent acceleration in case numbers poses a significant public health challenge.

Dengue is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, a species recognized by its black-and-white striped legs and known to breed in stagnant water. The disease can cause high fever, severe headaches, nausea, vomiting and muscle pain, while severe cases may lead to internal bleeding and death.

In a statement, the president’s office said authorities would intensify enforcement measures against individuals and institutions found to be allowing mosquito breeding sites on their properties.

“Laws will also be strictly enforced against those allowing mosquito breeding on their premises, in addition to setting up the special military unit,” the statement said.

A nationwide cleanup campaign targeting stagnant water and other mosquito breeding areas is scheduled to begin on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka has recorded a sharp increase in infections since early June, including more than 1,000 cases reported in a single day this week, according to official health data.

Kapila Kannangara, head of the government’s dengue control unit, said both public and private hospitals were already facing mounting pressure from the surge in patients.

“Hospitals are already under pressure,” Kannangara told reporters in Colombo. “We don’t want to have a situation like the one we faced in 2017.”

The country’s worst dengue epidemic occurred in 2017, when authorities recorded approximately 186,000 infections and 440 deaths, overwhelming healthcare facilities and prompting emergency response measures.

Health officials attributed the latest increase in cases to a combination of monsoon rains, stagnant water left behind by recent flooding and poor waste management practices that have created favorable breeding conditions for mosquitoes.

The World Health Organization has previously warned that climate change is contributing to the faster spread and broader geographic reach of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions.

The latest figures marked an increase from 933 confirmed cases and 245 deaths reported a day earlier, according to government data.

Growing concern has centered on Kigonze camp in Bunia, the epicenter of the outbreak, where at least 30 people have died since early May. Camp officials and humanitarian workers said the death rate was unprecedented and raised fears that Ebola may be spreading rapidly among displaced populations living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.

Kigonze hosts more than 15,000 residents and is located in Ituri province, which accounts for more than 90 percent of the country’s confirmed Ebola infections. Eastern Congo is home to more than five million displaced people, many of whom have fled years of armed conflict and insecurity.

Camp spokesperson Desire Grodya Bapi told Reuters that such a concentration of deaths had never previously been recorded at the site, which normally reports only a handful of deaths each month. Residents and aid workers described victims suffering symptoms commonly associated with Ebola, including fever, headaches and vomiting.

Health officials faced additional challenges because many families initially refused testing of both living patients and deceased relatives. Aid workers said resistance to medical intervention delayed efforts to determine the exact causes of death and complicated disease surveillance.

According to camp officials and humanitarian sources, samples collected from several victims tested positive for Ebola. Footage verified by Reuters showed health teams wearing protective suits disinfecting bodies and preparing coffins while grieving relatives gathered nearby.

The outbreak was officially declared on May 15, although officials said infections and deaths had begun earlier in the month.

Humanitarian organizations warned that deteriorating sanitation infrastructure and funding shortfalls may be contributing to the outbreak’s severity. Several aid agencies said reductions in international support for water, sanitation and hygiene programs have left vulnerable communities more exposed to infectious diseases.

United Nations data indicate that funding for water and sanitation services in Congo fell sharply between 2024 and 2025, while this year’s humanitarian appeal remains significantly underfunded. Aid groups said projects providing clean water access, handwashing facilities and public toilets have been scaled back or discontinued in several Ebola-affected regions.

Conditions inside Kigonze camp remain particularly challenging. Families often share cramped shelters, sanitation facilities are insufficient, and overflowing latrines have become a persistent problem, according to camp representatives and aid workers.

Humanitarian agencies noted that the United States has historically been one of the largest contributors to water and sanitation programs in Congo. However, several organizations reported that U.S.-funded projects serving displaced populations in Ebola-affected provinces have been reduced following recent funding cuts.

The worsening outbreak has heightened concerns among health officials that delayed testing, population displacement and inadequate sanitation could accelerate transmission in one of the world’s most vulnerable humanitarian settings.

The mosquito-borne disease, which typically spreads during the island nation’s monsoon season, has intensified following Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka in late November and left behind widespread debris that created favorable breeding conditions for mosquitoes.

Data released by the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) showed infections nearly doubled from 5,651 cases in April to 10,638 cases recorded during the first two weeks of June alone.

“We noticed this increase after the cyclone,” said Dr. Prashila Samaraweera, consultant community physician and spokesperson for the NDCU. “A lot of debris was in our environment, so we noticed a lot of mosquito breeding places, and our entomological indices were high from that time.”

Sri Lanka recorded approximately 51,000 dengue cases throughout 2025, but the pace of infections this year has accelerated significantly. Health officials expect case numbers to continue rising for at least another two weeks before showing signs of easing.

Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa warned on Thursday that a further increase in patient admissions could place severe strain on public hospitals already managing growing caseloads.

More than half of all reported infections have been concentrated in the country’s western region. Colombo, Sri Lanka’s commercial capital, has reported 9,429 cases since January, while eight other districts have each registered more than 2,000 infections.

The fatalities recorded this year include five children, underscoring concerns among health authorities about vulnerable populations.

Officials have warned that the outbreak could approach levels seen during Sri Lanka’s last major dengue epidemic in 2019, when the country reported more than 105,000 cases.

In response, authorities have launched a nationwide cleanup campaign involving schools, residential neighborhoods, construction sites and public institutions. The program, coordinated by health agencies and local government bodies, is scheduled to continue through next week as officials seek to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds and slow transmission.

Uganda’s Health Ministry said the country’s response to the outbreak had been effective, with two deaths recorded among 19 confirmed cases since the alert was raised after cases emerged in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo in mid-May.

“While we appreciate the need for vigilance, blanket restrictions undermine confidence in countries that report outbreaks openly, and are not commensurate with the actual risk,” Diana Atwine, permanent secretary at Uganda’s Health Ministry, said.

The restrictions were imposed by countries including the United States, Canada and the United Arab Emirates on travelers from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring South Sudan.

Most of Uganda’s confirmed cases involved Congolese nationals who crossed the border from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where more than 676 cases have been reported and 136 deaths recorded since May 15.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Uganda’s response during a visit to the country, while the UN health agency warned that the outbreak in Congo was spreading to new areas.

The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a form for which there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment. The virus spreads through close contact with infected bodily fluids and has caused thousands of deaths across Africa over recent decades.

Health authorities reported 550 confirmed cases as of Sunday, including 101 deaths and 19 recoveries, according to the latest situation update released late Monday. The outbreak was officially declared on May 15.

The vast majority of infections have been recorded in Ituri province, which accounts for more than 90 percent of confirmed cases. Additional cases have been identified in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, while the virus has also crossed into neighboring Uganda.

Officials believe the true number of infections may be higher because the outbreak was detected weeks after transmission had already begun. Response efforts have been further complicated by the absence of an approved vaccine or treatment for the strain responsible for the current outbreak.

The outbreak has been linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus, for which no approved vaccine or therapeutic treatment currently exists. This differs from the Zaire strain, which was responsible for most of Congo’s previous Ebola outbreaks and for which vaccines and treatments have been developed.

Authorities said the sharp increase in confirmed infections partly reflects expanded diagnostic capacity, which has enabled laboratories to process a backlog of previously collected samples.

Health workers operating in affected areas continue to face significant obstacles. Medical teams have been attacked on multiple occasions by residents frustrated by the outbreak response, while persistent skepticism among some communities has complicated surveillance and containment efforts.

Security concerns remain a major challenge across eastern Congo, where numerous armed groups continue to operate. Ongoing violence has limited access to several affected communities and disrupted disease-monitoring activities.

The World Health Organization said Monday that insecurity is restricting access for response teams, hindering surveillance operations and increasing the risk that new chains of transmission could go undetected.

The agency said the attacks on health personnel underscore the difficulties of responding to a public health emergency in conflict-affected areas and highlighted the importance of cooperation with local leaders and communities.

Eastern Congo has experienced repeated outbreaks of Ebola over the past decade, but health officials warn that the combination of armed conflict, delayed detection and the lack of approved medical countermeasures for the Bundibugyo strain presents a particularly complex challenge for containment efforts.

Long queues of trucks carrying perishable goods such as plantains and fish have been stranded at the border, with many traders fearing their products will spoil before reaching markets.

Ugandan authorities tightened restrictions after Congo’s Ebola outbreak in Ituri Province worsened. While emergency and humanitarian traffic is still allowed, cargo movement has slowed significantly.

Officials say the measures are necessary to stop cross-border transmission of Ebola. Uganda has already recorded 15 confirmed Ebola cases linked to the outbreak in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Local businesses around the busy Mpondwe Border Post have been hit hard, with traders reporting spoiled goods, reduced income, and growing uncertainty.

The World Health Organization has warned that neighboring countries face a high risk of infection but generally discourages border closures, emphasizing surveillance and health measures instead.

Authorities say further restrictions may be introduced if the outbreak continues to spread.

Nearly 600 children with suspected or confirmed measles have died since March, while hospitals across the country are struggling to cope with hundreds of new admissions each day. Medical facilities remain under severe pressure as doctors attempt to isolate infected patients and prevent further transmission.

Health experts fear large-scale population movement during the Eid holidays could accelerate the spread of the highly contagious disease, particularly in rural areas with limited access to healthcare services.

The outbreak has overwhelmed pediatric wards in several hospitals, prompting renewed calls for expanded vaccination efforts and stronger public health measures to contain the crisis.

Speaking at the opening of the facility in Ituri province, Tedros said four patients would be discharged on Sunday, while another had left care two days earlier, highlighting signs of progress in combating the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a rare variant for which no approved vaccine or specific treatment currently exists.

“Of course, we’re still working on vaccines and treatments but that doesn’t mean that people cannot recover from Ebola,” Tedros said.

The announcement follows confirmation by the WHO on Friday of the first documented recovery of a patient infected with the Bundibugyo virus during the current outbreak, a development health officials hope will encourage infected individuals to seek medical attention sooner.

According to the latest official figures released by the WHO, the outbreak has generated 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths in Congo. The disease has also crossed borders, with neighboring Uganda reporting nine confirmed cases and one death, according to the Ugandan Health Ministry.

Despite the opening of new facilities and the arrival of additional international assistance, humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, warned on Saturday that the virus continues to outpace containment efforts. The group called for expanded testing capacity, faster deployment of health personnel and uninterrupted access for medical supplies.

Health authorities have faced growing operational challenges as some local communities resist strict disease-control measures, particularly protocols governing the handling and burial of Ebola victims. Officials say at least three attacks have been carried out against health centers during the outbreak.

Tedros emphasized the importance of community cooperation, urging residents to seek treatment immediately after symptoms appear and to participate actively in containment efforts.

“If you come to health facilities when you have symptoms, you can get the support and recover,” he said, adding that early intervention remains critical to improving survival rates.

Security concerns have further complicated the response. In Ituri, attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces, an armed group linked to Daesh, along with violence involving ethnic militias, have limited access to some affected communities and disrupted medical operations.

The outbreak has also been reported in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels control several strategic urban centers, including Goma and Bukavu. The rebel movement has reported two Ebola cases in areas under its control.

Congolese health officials sought to reassure residents that the outbreak can be contained. Pierre Akilimali, incident manager at the National Institute of Public Health, said symptomatic treatment was producing encouraging results and helping patients recover.

Medical staff at the new treatment center echoed that assessment. Davin Ambitapio, a physician involved in the response, said healthcare workers remained optimistic that coordinated efforts by national authorities and international partners would eventually bring the outbreak under control.

The Bundibugyo strain was first identified in Uganda in 2007 and is one of several known Ebola virus species capable of causing severe hemorrhagic fever outbreaks in humans.

Australian health authorities are intensifying efforts to contain a growing diphtheria outbreak affecting remote Indigenous communities after concerns emerged that delayed intervention and strained local health services could allow further spread of the disease.

The outbreak has been concentrated largely in northern and remote regions, particularly in Western Australia’s Kimberley area, where health workers say overcrowded housing, population movement between communities and limited healthcare resources have heightened transmission risks. While official case numbers remain relatively small, frontline providers warn the true scale of infections may be higher than reported.

Many affected communities face longstanding structural challenges that complicate disease control efforts. Families frequently travel between remote settlements to access food, supplies and essential services, creating additional opportunities for transmission.

Health officials have also reported that more than one-third of confirmed cases have occurred among children and teenagers, raising concerns about broader community spread.In Halls Creek, one of the Kimberley communities reporting cases, local healthcare workers say the outbreak is placing additional pressure on already stretched services.

According to community health leaders, the task extends beyond clinical treatment to ensuring public health information is delivered in culturally and linguistically appropriate ways.

The challenge is particularly significant in a region where approximately 43% of Indigenous households speak traditional languages at home. Public health campaigns, vaccination outreach and contact-tracing efforts must therefore be tailored to multiple linguistic and cultural contexts.Local health workers say uncertainty over future funding arrangements has added to operational pressures.

Funding provided during the Covid-19 pandemic supported dedicated vaccination roles that proved critical in delivering immunisation programs and public health messaging. Questions remain over whether similar resources will continue as authorities respond to the diphtheria outbreak.

Healthcare providers in affected communities warn that public awareness remains limited because diphtheria has been largely absent from Australia for decades. The disease was effectively controlled through widespread vaccination, meaning many younger residents and even some healthcare workers have little direct experience recognising symptoms or responding to outbreaks.

Community leaders say the lack of familiarity has complicated efforts to encourage vigilance and early treatment. While local health services have increased awareness campaigns, some fear valuable time may have been lost before the seriousness of the outbreak became widely recognised.

Further east, Indigenous health organisations in Queensland have moved to strengthen preparedness measures. In the Aboriginal community of Yarrabah, healthcare providers have launched public information campaigns aimed at increasing vaccination coverage after immunisation rates declined slightly following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Health officials say vaccination levels in the community had previously exceeded 95% before experiencing a modest decline. Recent efforts have helped reverse that trend, although healthcare providers describe the recovery as an ongoing challenge requiring sustained community engagement.

Medical services in Yarrabah have remained closely integrated with broader regional public health responses led by Queensland authorities. Local healthcare leaders say public health capabilities developed during the Covid-19 pandemic have improved the community’s ability to respond to infectious disease threats, allowing greater local control over prevention measures, health messaging and vaccination campaigns.

Concerns about the pace of the national response emerged earlier this year when Indigenous health organisations sought additional federal support to address the outbreak. In April, a coalition involving public health bodies, the Australian Centre for Disease Control and senior health officials submitted a funding request aimed at strengthening outbreak management efforts.

By mid-May, however, community health advocates were expressing frustration that additional support had yet to be announced. At the same time, concerns intensified after reports that the Northern Territory had recorded its first diphtheria-related death in more than a decade.Authorities have stressed that the circumstances surrounding the death remain under investigation.

NT Health is awaiting autopsy findings and a coroner’s assessment to determine whether the individual died from diphtheria or died while infected with the disease.Public health specialists argued that delays in funding and community outreach risked allowing the outbreak to gain momentum.

Infectious disease experts frequently emphasize the importance of rapid intervention during outbreaks, particularly in remote settings where healthcare access may be limited and living conditions can facilitate transmission.

The federal government announced a significant escalation of support on Thursday, unveiling a A$7.2 million package designed to strengthen containment efforts. The funding will support the deployment of surge health workers, expansion of vaccination programs and procurement of additional vaccines and antibiotics.

Health leaders involved in the response welcomed the package, describing it as larger than originally requested and likely to substantially improve outbreak management capacity across affected regions.While praising the funding commitment, some public health experts have questioned whether intervention should have occurred earlier.

They argue that part of the delay may have stemmed from the nature of the initial cases, many of which involved cutaneous diphtheria rather than the more widely recognised respiratory form of the disease.Cutaneous diphtheria affects the skin and is generally less severe than respiratory infections. Although it is rarely life-threatening, it can cause chronic skin ulcers and secondary infections if left untreated.

Importantly, health authorities note that bacteria from skin lesions can contribute to transmission and potentially lead to respiratory disease in other individuals.The distinction may have reduced the perceived urgency of the outbreak during its early stages.

Public health experts now stress that prompt diagnosis, antibiotic treatment and contact tracing remain essential regardless of whether cases initially present as skin infections or respiratory illness.Vaccination remains the central pillar of the response strategy.

According to health officials, vaccination coverage among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children remains relatively high, with rates for five-year-olds standing at 94.33%. However, experts say maintaining community protection will require stronger uptake of booster vaccinations among adults.Health leaders believe improved booster coverage, combined with more effective contact tracing and rapid antibiotic treatment, can eventually bring the outbreak under control.

They also argue that future responses to communicable disease threats in Indigenous communities should involve Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations from the earliest stages of planning and intervention.

The outbreak has renewed broader discussions about healthcare access, public health preparedness and the challenges of delivering disease control measures across some of Australia’s most remote Indigenous communities.