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Ebola-infected Americans being treated in Berlin and Prague as US quarantine facilities remain blocked by court
Americans infected with or exposed to Ebola are being treated at medical facilities in Berlin and Prague after a US court blocked quarantine facilities. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday while backup plans include hospitals at Bellevue, Emory and the NIH.
Americans who have been infected with or exposed to Ebola are being treated at medical facilities in Europe after a US court blocked the use of domestic quarantine facilities. One patient who tested positive is currently being treated in Berlin, while several others are quarantining and isolating in the German capital.
An additional doctor who was exposed to the virus is receiving care in Prague. Health experts have described the European facilities as high-quality institutions where American patients should feel comfortable being treated, though the arrangement highlights the challenges facing the US response to the outbreak.
The quarantine facilities in the United States remain stalled until at least a court hearing scheduled for Tuesday. The injunction has drawn criticism from public health experts who warn that the legal proceedings are slowing down the response at a time when authorities need to sprint forward to gain control over the outbreak.
As a backup plan, highly specialised facilities in the United States including Bellevue Hospital, Emory University Hospital, the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health all remain ready to receive patients if needed. Discussions with additional European hospitals are also reportedly ongoing.
The situation underscores the growing international dimension of the Ebola outbreak, which originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Health officials have emphasised the need for rapid coordination between governments to ensure that there are no delays in care or transport for Americans who urgently require medical attention.