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.
Background
This is not the first instance of an American contracting Ebola. 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, who had been living in the DRC since 2021, was evacuated to Berlin, Germany, where Dr. Stafford was quarantined and treated in hospital. Despite the challenges they faced, the Staffords’ children are reportedly doing well.
The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the DRC has increased to 1,830, including 648 deaths, according to government data. However, no Ebola cases have been confirmed in the United States, and the overall risk to the American public and travelers remains low.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
