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A United States national serving with a humanitarian agency in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been infected with Ebola, according to confirmation from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The individual works with Samaritan’s Purse, making him the second American to contract the disease during the ongoing epidemic.
The employee had spent the past several weeks coordinating relief operations in Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province, and was not directly involved in treating infected patients.
He was placed in isolation earlier this week and is receiving medical attention at an Ebola care facility managed by his organisation.
Although Samaritan’s Purse has not officially announced an evacuation, reports indicate arrangements are being made to transfer him to a specialist treatment centre in Frankfurt, Germany.
Health officials from the CDC are working alongside Congolese authorities and the organisation to trace anyone who may have had close contact with the patient.
The outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo variant of the Ebola virus, a strain for which no licensed vaccine or approved therapy currently exists.
The absence of established medical countermeasures has heightened concerns among global health agencies and accelerated research into potential treatments.
Health authorities report that the epidemic has continued to worsen, with 1,792 confirmed infections and 625 fatalities recorded across the DRC by early July.
The disease has also spread into neighbouring Uganda.
Researchers believe transmission may have gone unnoticed for several months before officials identified the outbreak, allowing the virus to spread more widely.
Persistent insecurity, armed conflict and limited healthcare infrastructure have further complicated containment efforts.
Despite the situation in Central Africa, US health officials maintain that there is no immediate danger to the American population, noting that no infections have been detected within the United States.
The government, however, continues to face challenges over how to manage the care of citizens who become infected while working overseas.
Earlier plans to establish a dedicated treatment facility in Kenya were shelved following legal objections, while the policy of transporting infected Americans back to the United States for specialised treatment remains under debate.
Medical experts continue to study the recovery of American missionary Dr Peter Stafford, who survived Ebola after being airlifted from the DRC to a hospital in Berlin earlier this year.
Reflecting on his experience, he described the illness as physically exhausting, recalling severe fever, overwhelming fatigue and difficulty walking.
His wife, Dr Rebekah Stafford, also highlighted the emotional strain the disease placed on their family, particularly their children, who had to cope with the realities of strict isolation during his treatment.
Public health specialists say winning the trust and cooperation of affected communities remains essential to ending the outbreak.
Authorities, supported by international partners, have expanded disease surveillance, contact tracing and public education campaigns across Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
The World Health Organisation has also introduced additional diagnostic technologies to improve early detection and strengthen emergency operations, while encouraging residents to report suspected infections promptly to reduce further transmission.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong