An American doctor working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has tested positive for Ebola as health officials battle a rapidly growing outbreak that has already left at least 131 people dead.
The doctor, identified as Dr. Peter Stafford, was treating patients at Nyankunde Hospital when he was exposed to the virus, according to the international Christian missions organization Serge.
Stafford, who has worked at the hospital since 2023, sought testing after developing symptoms associated with Ebola. On Monday, the CDC confirmed that at least one American in the DRC had tested positive for the virus, though officials did not publicly identify the patient.
Dr. Satish K. Pillai, incident manager for the CDC’s Ebola response, said the individual developed symptoms over the weekend and tested positive late Sunday, according to Tyla. The patient, along with six other high-risk contacts, is now being transported to Germany for treatment.
“Given the previous experience for caring for Ebola patients, coupled with the flight times being significantly shorter, this allows us to get these persons to points of care quickly,” Pillai said, according to the outlet.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo faces a worsening Ebola outbreak involving the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus – a variant with no approved vaccines. According to the BBC, officials said that by Tuesday, more than 513 Ebola cases were suspected in DR Congo.
Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The World Health Organization officially declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday.
“513 suspected cases and 131 deaths have been recorded in the affected areas,” Samuel Roger Kamba, the country’s minister of public health, said according to Tyla,
“These are suspected deaths, and investigations are underway to determine which ones are actually linked to the disease.”
Health officials say the outbreak was first confirmed Friday and has since spread to several areas. Although the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring Uganda have experienced more than 20 Ebola outbreaks over the years, this marks only the third time the Bundibugyo variant has been detected.
“Deeply concerned about the scale and speed “
A study by the MRC Center for Global Infectious Disease Analysis in London said there may be many more cases yet to be found. Researchers said the total number of cases could already exceed 1,000. A statement from the WHO states that the epidemic of Ebola disease is caused by the Bundibugyo virus. Scientists believe African fruit bats are involved in the spread.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he is “deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic.”
Two additional Serge medical missionaries – including Stafford’s wife – were also treating patients in the region when the outbreak began, though both remain asymptomatic.
“Our medical teams labour in some of the most demanding settings in the world, serving vulnerable communities who have limited access to healthcare,” Joel Hylton, Serge’s senior director of mission, said in a statement.
“We are profoundly grateful for their dedication to the people of the DRC, and we deeply lament the hardship they are enduring under this current threat. Our concern extends equally to our Congolese colleagues and friends in the region who face these same risks.”
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