A US citizen doing humanitarian work in the Democratic Republic of Congo has tested positive for Ebola, marking the second American infected amid the DRC’s explosive Ebola outbreak—and the second to be sent for care in Germany rather than the US.
The Ebola outbreak, which was first declared on May 15, is already the third largest on record and still growing. As of July 12, the DRC has reported 1,926 cases and 702 deaths in the outbreak, which is caused by the lesser-known Bundibugyo strain of Ebolavirus.
Under the Trump administration, the US has adopted a seemingly isolationist approach, implementing stringent and controversial travel restrictions and blocking the repatriation of citizens exposed to or infected with the virus. That’s despite the US having multiple facilities around the country designed to safely monitor and provide high-quality care for Ebola patients in these types of situations.
The US is also largely removed from outbreak responses. Upon taking office, Trump moved to withdraw from the World Health Organization, which is helping coordinate the international efforts to halt the spread of the virus—though it is still outpacing health workers.
On Monday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that WHO had provided clinical care for the infected American before the patient was transferred to Germany for follow-up care.
Americans infected
While saying such infections among aid workers are not unexpected, Tedros called for more help to curb the virus. “As the outbreak escalates, an accelerated response from local, national, and international partners is urgently needed,” he said on social media Monday. “WHO is working intensively under the government’s leadership and with Africa CDC to bring the outbreak under control as rapidly as possible.”
