US health authorities confirmed on Monday that an American has contracted Ebola after exposure during their work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Officials announced 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 Plans
Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the case on Monday and stated that the individual is being evacuated to Germany. The person developed symptoms over the weekend and tested positive late Sunday, according to Satish K Pillai, an incident manager for the CDC’s Ebola response, during a press conference. Six other individuals are also in the process of being evacuated for treatment or monitoring. Approximately 25 people are working in the US office in the DRC, and the CDC is sending an additional person from Atlanta, Georgia.
New Travel Screening Measures Announced
Based on “current epidemiological evidence, ongoing risk assessments, and the highly serious nature of EVD (Ebola virus disease),” the CDC and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Monday that they would introduce enhanced public health screening and monitoring for travelers arriving in the US from the affected region. US entry restrictions will apply to non-US passport holders who have been in Uganda, the DRC, or South Sudan within the past 21 days. Airlines, international partners, and port-of-entry officials have been directed to identify and manage travelers who may have been exposed to the virus. Enhanced “port health protection response activities, contact tracing, laboratory testing capacity, and hospital readiness nationwide” have been enacted.
Current Outbreak Statistics
In the DRC, there are 10 confirmed cases of Ebola, 336 suspected cases, and 88 deaths. Among the deceased are at least four health workers. The CDC assessed the immediate risk to the general US public as low, stating, “We will continue to evaluate the evolving situation and may adjust public health measures as additional information becomes available.” 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 remain in effect for an initial 30 days.
Background of the Outbreak
The CDC stated on Sunday that it is “supporting interagency partners who are actively coordinating the safe withdrawal of a small number of Americans who are directly affected by this outbreak.” This announcement came one day after the World Health Organization declared a “public health emergency of international concern” due to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus in the DRC and Uganda, and two days after the epidemic was first announced by Africa’s top public health authority. The outbreak was initially identified in the DRC’s north-eastern Ituri province, near the borders with Uganda, South Sudan, and Rwanda. This area was the location of the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history, which occurred from 2018 to 2020, involving 3,470 cases and 2,287 deaths. However, that outbreak involved a different strain, Zaire ebolavirus, which is considered treatable.
Bundibugyo Strain Details
This outbreak marks only the third time the Bundibugyo strain has been detected; the previous outbreaks were in 2007 and 2012. The strain has a mortality rate of 25% to 50% and currently has no targeted vaccine or treatment. Satish Pillai, the CDC’s incident manager, described the situation on Sunday as a “highly dynamic situation” that the US continues to assess. The Ebola outbreak comes less than two weeks after an outbreak of the rat-borne hantavirus aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius required 16 Americans to be flown to a medical facility in Nebraska.
WHO and Regional Response
The WHO reported on Sunday that the first known suspected case, a health worker, developed symptoms on 24 April. The individual likely contracted the virus from someone brought in for care, suggesting the outbreak had been circulating for some time. Two infected individuals from the DRC traveled separately to the Ugandan capital of Kampala, where one died. The WHO states there is no indication of ongoing transmission in Uganda.
