Ebola Case Becomes Urgent Concern in Congo
An American surgeon who contracted Ebola in Congo was flown to Germany for treatment on Tuesday, but by that point, he was in notably poor condition, struggling to stand, as reported by two leaders from the Christian missionary group he was affiliated with.
Dr. Scott Myhre, the group’s East and Central Africa area director, described the scene upon Dr. Peter Stafford’s departure. “There were individuals fully geared up in PPE, and he was barely able to walk while holding onto them,” Myhre noted. “He appeared extremely fatigued and quite ill.”
Stafford worked at Nyankunde Hospital in Ituri province, which is at the center of the ongoing Ebola outbreak. Days before authorities confirmed the outbreak, he had performed surgery on a 33-year-old patient who exhibited severe abdominal pain, initially thought to be due to a gallbladder infection, according to Myhre.
During the procedure, Stafford found the gallbladder normal, but tragically, the patient died the following day. Later, it was revealed that this individual likely succumbed to Ebola, as he had been buried before testing could take place. Stafford began showing symptoms over the weekend and tested positive for Ebola on Sunday, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Myhre explained that Stafford was meticulous in his surgical hygiene, wearing all the necessary sterile equipment. However, he acknowledged that this didn’t completely guard against potential Ebola exposure.
Stafford’s wife, Rebekah, who is also a doctor, had treated the same patient. She and their four young children are currently in Congo, under observation. Another doctor, Patrick LaRochelle, potentially exposed through a different patient, is also being monitored, though all have shown no signs of illness.
“We usually don’t see many pediatric cases of Ebola, and we sincerely hope this won’t be one of those situations,” Myhre added.
After developing symptoms that included chills, fever, muscle aches, extreme fatigue, and nausea, Stafford quarantined himself. To ensure the safety of those onboard, he was transported to Germany in a specialized plastic bed for the flight, described as being “about the size of a casket.”
The World Health Organization indicates that the virus can have an incubation period of up to 21 days, and there’s significant concern regarding the speed and scale of the outbreak. It has likely been spreading for weeks, and the death toll in central Africa has risen sharply: at least 131 fatalities and 531 suspected infections have been reported.
The specific type of Ebola involved is a less common strain known as Bundibugyo, which currently has no approved vaccine or treatment options. Previous Bundibugyo outbreaks have had alarming death rates, ranging from 30% to 50%, according to WHO data.
