A US citizen working for a humanitarian group in the Democratic Republic of Congo has tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC is working with the patient’s employing organization, other federal agencies, and partners in the DRC to help prevent further transmission and identify high-risk contacts.

Outbreak Update

The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the DRC has increased to 1,830, including 648 deaths, according to government data. No Ebola cases have been confirmed in the United States, and the overall risk to the American public and travelers remains low.

In May, an American Christian missionary physician, Dr. Peter Stafford, tested positive for Ebola after presenting symptoms consistent with the virus. His wife, Dr. Rebekah Stafford, and another physician were also monitored for signs of the virus. The family was evacuated to Berlin, Germany, where Stafford was quarantined and treated in a hospital.

Despite the challenges, the Staffords’ children are doing well, according to Dr. Rebekah Stafford. The family had been living in the DRC since 2021, working with a humanitarian organization to provide aid to those in need.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.