KINSHASA — A U.S. citizen working for a humanitarian organization in the Democratic Republic of Congo has tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, U.S. health authorities said, as officials continue efforts to contain one of Africa's fastest-growing Ebola outbreaks.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it is coordinating with the individual's employer, other U.S. government agencies and Congolese health authorities to identify close contacts and reduce the risk of further transmission. The agency did not disclose the patient's identity or provide additional personal details, citing privacy considerations.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said the department was aware of the case and was assisting the affected American citizen. Reuters reported on Monday that the patient, a warehouse manager employed by the Christian humanitarian organization Samaritan's Purse, was medically evacuated to Germany for treatment at Frankfurt University Hospital's high-security isolation unit. Hospital officials said the patient arrived early Monday and was in stable condition.
According to the CDC, no Ebola cases linked to the current outbreak have been confirmed in the United States, and the overall risk to the American public remains low. The agency said the outbreak remains centered in remote areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Uganda, while enhanced monitoring and public health measures remain in place.
The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, a rare strain for which there is no licensed vaccine. Treatment consists primarily of supportive medical care, although clinical research on vaccines and therapeutics is underway. The CDC said Bundibugyo virus has previously caused outbreaks in Uganda in 2007 and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2012.
Health authorities say the outbreak has expanded significantly since it was declared in May. Reuters reported that confirmed infections in Congo have risen to about 1,926, with 702 deaths, and cases have spread into additional provinces, including Haut-Uele and Tshopo. The outbreak has also affected neighboring Uganda.
Response efforts have been complicated by insecurity, logistical challenges and funding constraints in eastern Congo, where health workers continue surveillance, contact tracing and treatment operations. International public health agencies are monitoring the situation closely while researchers have begun the first human clinical trial of a vaccine specifically targeting the Bundibugyo strain.
