An American Has Contracted Ebola: Here’s What You Need to Know

(SeaPRwire) –   An American working in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has tested positive for Ebola and is experiencing symptoms, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Six other Americans who have been in close contact with the infected individual, also located in the DRC, are currently under monitoring.

Captain Satish Pillai, incident manager for CDC’s Ebola response, stated during a briefing on May 18 that the CDC is coordinating efforts to transport all seven Americans to medical facilities in Germany, where they will continue to receive care and undergo further evaluation. He noted that the confirmed case was “exposed as part of their work in DRC” but declined to provide specific details regarding the nature of the exposure.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this outbreak in DRC and Uganda has resulted in eight laboratory-confirmed Ebola cases, while more than 250 suspected cases remain under investigation; among those affected, 80 individuals have died. Dr. Alan Gonzalez, deputy director of operations at Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières, explained that violence and political instability in the region, coupled with inadequate healthcare infrastructure and insufficient protective equipment for health workers, are contributing to the rapid spread of the virus. The WHO Director General declared the Ebola outbreak in both countries a public health emergency of international concern on May 17, a designation that mobilizes additional resources, personnel, and funding to combat the public health threat.

Pillai emphasized that the CDC is collaborating closely with health authorities in DRC and Uganda to assist in containing the outbreak. This support includes deploying technical experts on Ebola both locally and remotely. In response, the U.S. government has issued health advisories for travelers to DRC and Uganda, urging them to obtain travel insurance, avoid contact with anyone showing symptoms, refrain from visiting healthcare facilities unless absolutely necessary, and steer clear of interactions with animals or consumption of raw meat.

On May 18, the United States implemented entry restrictions barring anyone who has visited DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the past 21 days—unless holding a valid U.S. passport—from entering the country.

Ebola outbreaks have occurred frequently in the DRC since the disease was first identified in the mid-1970s, with at least 16 prior outbreaks recorded before this current event. Historically, most outbreaks involved the Zaire strain, which carries a high fatality rate between 60% and 90%, and causes symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, headaches, progressing eventually to internal bleeding and organ failure.

The latest outbreak originated with reports to WHO in early May about unexplained deaths, including among healthcare providers, in Ituri Province, DRC. Within just over a week, lab testing confirmed the presence of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has a lower mortality rate—ranging from 30% to 50%—but still results in severe and potentially fatal illness. Since the Zaire strain has dominated previous outbreaks, several antiviral treatments and monoclonal antibody therapies have been developed specifically for it; however, no such treatments exist yet for Bundibugyo. “This marks only the third known instance of the Bundibugyo strain causing an outbreak in history,” said Gonzalez. “Consequently, existing vaccines, previously developed therapeutics, and testing protocols tailored for Zaire are ineffective against this variant.”

Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected individuals. Experts believe people contract the virus primarily from infected bats or primates. Healthcare workers across Africa face heightened risk due to frequent shortages of appropriate personal protective equipment and limited awareness that patients may be infected, especially since initial symptoms mirror those of common infections.

Funding cuts—particularly to agencies like USAID, which historically played a major role in supporting global public health initiatives—have significantly impacted regional healthcare capacity since January. Despite these challenges, Pillai confirmed the CDC maintains a team of 25 staff in its DRC office, and that number “has not seen substantial change.” He added: “For any support requests from either the country office or the Ministry of Health, we stand ready to deliver assistance both remotely and in person.”

With no targeted treatments available for Bundibugyo, public health officials are focusing on critical containment strategies: widespread testing, rigorous contact tracing to identify potential exposures, and strict isolation measures. Managing coexisting infections and ensuring adequate hydration are also vital components of patient care. As Gonzalez highlighted, these non-specific interventions have proven highly effective in prior outbreaks: “Even absent specific therapeutics, such approaches dramatically improve patient outcomes.”

To date, there have been no reported cases of Ebola in the United States. “The risk to the U.S. population remains low,” Pillai affirmed.