American aid worker tests positive for Ebola in DR Congo, authorities trace high-risk contacts

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that an American citizen working with a humanitarian organization in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been infected with the Bundibugyo variant of the Ebola virus.

According to the CDC, U.S. authorities are coordinating with the organization he worked for, other federal agencies, and partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo to limit further spread of the virus and identify people who may have had high-risk contact. So far, no additional information has been released about the patient’s identity or health condition.

The CDC stressed that there are no confirmed Ebola cases in the United States and that the level of risk to the American public remains low. Health institutions explained that the outbreak remains concentrated in isolated areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Uganda, while the chances of the virus spreading to the U.S. are considered very low.

Data published by Congolese authorities show that confirmed Ebola cases have risen to 1,830, while 648 people have died as a result of the disease.

In May, another American serving as a missionary doctor, Dr. Peter Stafford, also tested positive for Ebola while working in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was transported with his family to Berlin, where he received treatment and later recovered.

After recovering, Stafford said in an interview that he had endured a high fever, severe fatigue, and even difficulty walking. His wife, Dr. Rebekah Stafford, said the family went through difficult days and that their children were told they could not go near their father during his treatment.

Last month, the first Ebola case outside Africa during this outbreak was also recorded. In France, a humanitarian worker tested positive after returning from a mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, raising concerns about monitoring travelers arriving from affected areas.

Meanwhile, international health authorities continue to closely monitor developments, as efforts to contain the Bundibugyo virus outbreak in Central Africa are still ongoing.