US health authorities confirmed on Monday that an American has developed Ebola after exposure during work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Officials stated they are taking “proactive measures” to protect US citizens in response to the ongoing Ebola virus epidemic in the DRC and Uganda.
CDC Confirms Case and Evacuation
Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the case on Monday, noting the individual is being evacuated to Germany. Symptoms developed over the weekend, and the patient tested positive late Sunday, said Satish K Pillai, an incident manager for the CDC’s Ebola response, during a press conference.
Six other people are also in the process of being evacuated for treatment or monitoring, Pillai added. Approximately 25 people work in the US office in DRC, and the CDC is sending another person from Atlanta, Georgia.
New Travel Screening Measures
Based on current epidemiological evidence, ongoing risk assessments, and the serious nature of Ebola virus disease (EVD), the CDC and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced enhanced public health screening and monitoring for travelers arriving in the US from the region. US entry restrictions will apply to non-US passport holders who have been in Uganda, the DRC, or South Sudan in the past 21 days.
Airlines, international partners, and port-of-entry officials have been directed to identify and manage potentially exposed travelers. Enhanced port health protection response activities, contact tracing, laboratory testing capacity, and hospital readiness nationwide have been enacted.
Current Outbreak Situation
There are 10 confirmed cases of Ebola, 336 suspected, and 88 deaths in the DRC. Among the deceased are at least four health workers. The CDC assessed the immediate risk to the general US public as low but will continue to evaluate the evolving situation and may adjust measures as needed.
The agency advises anyone who has traveled through affected countries to monitor CDC travel health notices and seek medical attention immediately if symptoms consistent with Ebola develop. The measures will last for an initial 30 days.
WHO Declares Public Health Emergency
The CDC statement on Sunday noted support for interagency partners coordinating the safe withdrawal of a small number of directly affected Americans. This advisory came a day after the World Health Organization declared a “public health emergency of international concern” caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the DRC and Uganda, and two days after Africa’s top public health authority first announced the epidemic.
The outbreak was first identified in the DRC’s north-eastern Ituri province, near the borders with Uganda, South Sudan, and Rwanda. This area was the site of the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history (2018-2020), involving 3,470 cases and 2,287 deaths, though that outbreak involved the Zaire ebolavirus strain, which is considered treatable.
The current outbreak marks only the third time the Bundibugyo strain has been detected, with previous outbreaks in 2007 and 2012. It has a mortality rate of 25% to 50% and no targeted vaccine or treatment.
Satish Pillai described the situation as “highly dynamic” and noted ongoing assessment. The Ebola outbreak follows closely after a hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius, which required 16 Americans to be flown to a Nebraska medical facility.
The WHO reported that the first suspected case, a health worker, developed symptoms on 24 April, likely contracted from a patient brought in for care, suggesting the outbreak had been circulating for some time. Two infected individuals from the DRC traveled separately to Kampala, Uganda, where one died. The WHO states there is no indication of ongoing transmission in Uganda.
