Seven American aid workers exposed to the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo are currently under quarantine at a U.S.-operated facility in Kenya, humanitarian organization Samaritan’s Purse confirmed. The workers, who display no symptoms, are undergoing a 21-day quarantine period in accordance with new U.S. travel restrictions.

Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, described the workers’ accommodations as large military tents situated within a fenced, graveled area, where they sleep on military cots and receive meals provided by the U.S. military. In a recent phone conversation, Graham extended encouragement and gratitude to the quarantined personnel as they await clearance to return to the United States.

The quarantine follows updated guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which now require travelers who have recently visited the Democratic Republic of Congo to complete a three-week quarantine outside the United States. These restrictions also apply to some travelers from Uganda and South Sudan due to ongoing concerns about the Ebola epidemic in Central Africa.

The current outbreak, first reported by Congo on May 15, is the country’s 17th Ebola episode and involves the rare Bundibugyo strain. Efforts to contain this outbreak have been hampered by the absence of approved vaccines or treatments specifically effective against this strain. According to the latest data from Congo’s Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare, there have been 2,181 confirmed Ebola cases and 864 deaths.

The quarantine facility, located at Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, Kenya, has become a focal point of controversy. A Kenyan court ordered a suspension of the center’s operations, and public knowledge of its use sparked protests that resulted in at least three fatalities. The Katiba Institute, a Nairobi-based legal advocacy group, condemned the hosting of the quarantined aid workers in Kenya, calling any such reports “an absolute outrage.”

Meanwhile, at least two Americans infected with Ebola during the outbreak have been evacuated to European medical facilities for treatment, underscoring the international efforts to manage the epidemic. Health experts continue to express concern that the outbreak could escalate into one of the most challenging Ebola crises in recent memory.