Dr. Peter Stafford, a medical missionary with the Christian group Serge, is showing signs of recovery after testing positive for the Bundibugyo ebolavirus while serving in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Stafford was flown to Germany for treatment on Tuesday.
Condition Improving
Dr. Scott Myhre, Serge's Area Director for East and Central Africa, reported on May 21 that Stafford felt better than the previous day and was beginning to eat small amounts of food. He continues to experience the predictable sequence of Ebola symptoms, including fever, aches, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash, but lab results are trending positively.
Through Serge, Dr. Stafford gave his own update: "Before I was evacuated I was feeling really concerned I wasn't going to make it. And now I'm cautiously optimistic." Myhre noted that Stafford remains critically ill but is not acutely deteriorating.
Family Reunited
Dr. Peter Stafford's wife, Dr. Rebekah Stafford, and their four children arrived in Berlin just before 10:00 p.m. local time and have moved into a separate space within Berlin's Charite University Hospital. They are all asymptomatic and will continue to isolate and be monitored. The family was able to see Dr. Stafford through a window, and both Drs. Stafford expressed relief at having seen each other, finally enjoying their first few hours of peaceful sleep after the window greeting.
