American doctor working in Congo tests positive for Ebola, CDC and aid group say
An American doctor working with a medical missionary organization in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has tested positive for Ebola, as confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the missionary group on Monday.
The infected individual, Dr. Peter Stafford, is being transferred to Germany for treatment, according to the CDC. Dr. Stafford contracted the Bundibugyo ebolavirus variant while caring for patients at Nyankunde Hospital in Bunia, where he has been serving since 2023. His wife, who is also a doctor with the aid group, and another physician who were in contact with him remain asymptomatic, the missionary group Serge reported.
In response to the outbreak, six other Americans, including Dr. Stafford, are being relocated out of the region for monitoring and potential treatment, the CDC announced.
The Ebola outbreak in the Congo and neighboring Uganda has resulted in over 250 suspected cases and 80 suspected deaths, as reported by the World Health Organization. This recent outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain is particularly concerning due to the lack of a vaccine or specific treatment for this variant, which was first identified in Uganda in 2007.
Ebolaviruses are transmitted through bodily fluids such as blood, vomit, or semen, posing a significant risk to caregivers, family members, and healthcare workers in close contact with infected individuals. Initial symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat, progressing to more severe symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and organ dysfunction.
The WHO has declared this outbreak a global health emergency, citing factors such as the urban setting of the outbreak and the presence of armed groups in the region as potential catalysts for further spread.
This marks the third known outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain, highlighting the ongoing challenges in combating the Ebola virus and preventing its transmission. Health officials are working diligently to contain the outbreak and provide care to those affected.
Leigh Ann Winick contributed to this report.
