A U.S. citizen working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has tested positive for Ebola, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The individual, who works for a humanitarian organization, is the second U.S. citizen to contract the virus amid the current outbreak.
The American was diagnosed with Bundibugyo virus, a type of Ebola, and the CDC is working with the patient's employer, other U.S. federal agencies, and public health authorities to prevent further transmission. The agency is supporting contact tracing and performing risk assessments to identify high-risk contacts.
This latest case comes as the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa continues to spread. The outbreak, which was declared on May 15, has grown rapidly, with 1,830 confirmed cases in Congo, including 648 deaths. Cases have also been reported in Uganda.
The Bundibugyo virus has no approved vaccine or treatment, and the World Health Organization has stated that the risk of a global outbreak remains low. The virus is not airborne but spreads through bodily fluids.
In response to the outbreak, the U.S. has ramped up security precautions, including enhanced health screenings for citizens returning from the region and restricted entry for non-U.S. citizens in the region. A previous U.S. citizen who contracted Ebola in the Congo, Dr. Peter Stafford, recovered after being evacuated to Germany and returned to the U.S. last month.
The situation in Congo remains dire, with Congolese authorities and international health organizations working to control the disease. The CDC and other global health authorities continue to monitor the situation and work to prevent further transmission.
