CDC confirms American working in CongoAmerican working in Congo tested positive for Ebola
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Monday that an American working in the Democratic Republic of Congo tested positive for Ebola after exposure in the country’s latest outbreak.
Other reports said several Americans in Congo may also have had exposure, while health officials said the overall risk to the U.S. public remains low.
The case matters because it shows how quickly a regional outbreak can become an international health concern and may prompt more monitoring and travel precautions.
U.S. health officials
The CDC says it is monitoring exposed Americans and has systems ready to detect and respond to new health threats. Officials also say the immediate risk to the general U.S. public remains low while they assess the situation.
Outbreak reporting
News reports describe the Congo outbreak as affecting a small number of Americans, including one person who tested positive after becoming symptomatic. They also note that additional people may need evacuation for health monitoring.
- Ebola was first discovered near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Uganda and Congo have both faced repeated Ebola outbreaks because the virus can reappear from animal reservoirs.
- The Bundibugyo species was named after a district in western Uganda where it was first detected.
