An American aid worker has tested positive for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo amid a worsening outbreak that has claimed over 600 lives. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that the individual contracted the virus strain Bundibugyo, which is responsible for the ongoing epidemic—the third largest recorded Ebola outbreak.
The affected employee is affiliated with Samaritan’s Purse, a disaster relief organization led by evangelist Franklin Graham. According to a spokesperson for the group, the worker has been in isolation since Monday and is receiving care at one of Samaritan’s Purse’s two Ebola treatment centers located in Ituri province, northeastern Congo, the region hardest hit by the outbreak. The organization noted that the individual has been providing logistical support in Bunia, the provincial capital, and was not involved in direct patient care.
This case marks the second confirmed Ebola infection of an American in the current outbreak. Earlier, a missionary doctor tested positive shortly after the outbreak was declared on May 15 and was subsequently evacuated to a specialized hospital in Germany for treatment.
The situation highlights ongoing challenges for the U.S. government regarding the management of American Ebola patients abroad. The current administration has moved away from the previous practice of repatriating patients to designated treatment units in the United States. A proposed treatment center in Kenya intended for American Ebola patients faced significant local opposition and legal challenges, resulting in the plan being halted. The facility is reportedly not yet operational.
While Samaritan’s Purse has not publicly confirmed any plans to evacuate the latest case, sources familiar with the situation indicated preparations are underway to transfer the patient to a treatment center in Frankfurt, Germany.
The epidemic, now in its 17th occurrence in Congo, is raising concerns among health experts that it could become the largest Ebola outbreak on record. Factors such as ongoing conflict, extensive population movement, active mining operations, and a weakened local healthcare infrastructure have impeded containment efforts. The virus is believed to have circulated for as many as five months before detection, complicating response measures.
Samaritan’s Purse remains one of the largest American entities actively engaged in the response, operating centers in Bunia and Nyankunda, a town formerly used as a base for Christian missionaries. The organization reports having treated several hundred patients.
No cases have been confirmed within the United States, and the CDC maintains that the general risk to Americans and travelers remains low. However, the virus’s spread continues in Congo, with health authorities recently confirming cases in two additional provinces.