American doctor who recovered from Ebola arrives back in U.S., says he’s “feeling well”
The American doctor who contracted Ebola while working on a humanitarian mission in Congo has returned to the United States and is feeling well after recovering from the potentially deadly disease.
Dr. Peter Stafford, along with his wife, Rebekah Stafford, and their four children, safely arrived back in the U.S. on Monday, as reported by Serge, a Pennsylvania-based Christian missions organization. Stafford has been Ebola-free since May 30, according to the organization.
“I am filled with gratitude to God for preserving my life, to all those who prayed on my behalf, and to the many medical providers who cared for me,” Stafford said in a statement. “I am feeling well and thankful to be reunited with Rebekah and the kids. Our prayers continue for those in Congo who are facing this devastating epidemic and for the ongoing efforts to control the disease.”
Serge also confirmed that other missionaries and their families who were serving in Congo alongside Stafford have been released from care and monitoring and have returned to the U.S.
Stafford contracted the virus last month while working with the missionary group in Congo. He was evacuated to a hospital in Berlin for treatment on May 20 and was discharged on June 6. His wife, who is also a doctor volunteering with the organization, and their four children were evacuated and quarantined as a precaution.
Charité | Pia Nitz
During their quarantine, neither Rebekah nor the four children showed any symptoms of Ebola, as confirmed by Charité hospital.
The Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak in Congo, which has also spread to neighboring Uganda, is a cause for serious concern among health officials. This particular strain of Ebola is less common than the Zaire strain and currently has no vaccines or specific treatment available.
As of Saturday, there have been 782 confirmed cases and 178 confirmed deaths in Congo, with 19 confirmed cases and two confirmed deaths in Uganda as of Sunday, according to the respective health ministries of the two countries.
