Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo
An American aid worker, affiliated with an evangelical organization, has tested positive for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This news comes amid an intense outbreak that has already claimed over 600 lives. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the worker contracted the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, which is currently driving this outbreak—marking it as the third largest recorded outbreak to date. At the moment, there is neither a licensed vaccine nor a treatment available for Bundibugyo, leading to urgent efforts by international researchers to develop one.
The individual is employed by Samaritan’s Purse, a disaster relief organization led by Franklin Graham, who confirmed the situation in an email. The worker has been in isolation since Monday and is receiving care at one of two treatment centers managed by the organization in Ituri, the province that is at the heart of this outbreak in northeastern Congo.
While the organization hasn’t identified the worker publicly, it did mention that he has been assisting with logistics in Bunia, the regional capital, for the past month and was not directly caring for patients.
This latest case marks the second American affected by Ebola in this outbreak. A missionary doctor also tested positive shortly after the outbreak was declared on May 15 and was subsequently evacuated to a hospital in Germany.
How to handle Ebola cases among Americans has emerged as a challenging issue for the Trump administration, which aims to diverge from the historical practice of repatriating health workers and citizens exposed to the virus for treatment in specialized medical facilities. Plans for a treatment center in Kenya, intended for American patients, faced significant backlash from locals and were ultimately blocked by the Kenyan courts. According to one international health official, this center is still not prepared to receive patients.
Samaritan’s Purse has not confirmed any evacuation plans for the affected employee, though two health officials indicated that arrangements are likely being made for him to be flown to a treatment facility abroad, potentially in Europe or the U.S.
Experts have raised concerns that this Ebola outbreak, now in its 17th occurrence in Congo, could develop into the largest on record, driven by multiple factors that hinder response efforts, including ongoing conflicts, gold mining activities, and an underfunded local healthcare system. Reports suggest that the virus may have started spreading as much as five months before it was officially detected, providing a significant advantage to the virus over health professionals trying to contain it.
Samaritan’s Purse is among the largest American organizations addressing the outbreak, operating treatment centers in both Bunia and Nyankunde, where hundreds of individuals have received assistance. Franklin Graham, the organization’s president, is known for his strong support of President Trump and has publicly defended him on social media.
Currently, no Ebola cases have been confirmed in the U.S., and the risk to American citizens or travelers remains low, according to the CDC. However, the situation in Congo is grim. This week, the health ministry reported cases in two additional provinces, including Kisangani, a significant transport hub connected to Kinshasa, the capital.
Cases involving health workers are particularly delicate. Following France’s first reported case, when an aid worker tested positive for Ebola after returning home, the Congolese government imposed a 21-day quarantine for anyone coming from affected regions.
Dr. Peter Stafford, a missionary who contracted Ebola in May, was transported to a hospital in Berlin for experimental treatments and has reportedly recovered, returning home in the U.S.
According to the Congolese health authorities, there have been 648 deaths from over 1,800 reported cases in the country. The virus has also spread to Uganda, with 20 confirmed cases and two deaths reported. International efforts to quickly develop a vaccine for Bundibugyo are currently underway.
Concerns have been voiced that cuts in aid by the Trump administration weakened essential disease surveillance and medical supply chains that might have identified and contained the outbreak sooner.
In May, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that no Ebola patients would be allowed entry into the U.S. after the World Health Organization had announced the outbreak, though he later seemed to soften that position.
