Ebola outbreak: American doctor infected with Bundibugyo strain discharged from Berlin hospital; here’s what we know | Today’s news
An American doctor who contracted the Ebola virus while working on a humanitarian mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been released from a hospital in Germany after recovering from the potentially fatal illness.
Peter Stafford was working with the Serge missionary group in the Democratic Republic of Congo when he contracted a rare strain of the Ebola virus, CBS News reported Saturday (local time). Stafford was evacuated to a hospital in Berlin on May 20, where he received care, according to the group. His wife, who is also a doctor and volunteered with the same group, was also evacuated and quarantined along with her four children.
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American doctor received antiviral therapy in Berlin
Stafford was given treatment at the Charité Hospital in Berlin, one of the best hospitals in Europe. He received “antiviral therapy and other supportive medical measures during the first week,” according to a hospital statement. The statement added that his condition continued to improve during treatment.
The hospital further stated: “The initially high viral load has decreased substantially with antiviral treatment and supportive care. Since May 30, no virus has been detected in daily follow-up tests. In accordance with internationally accepted criteria – complete absence of symptoms for more than 72 hours and negative detection of virus in repeated PCR tests – the competent public health authority lifted the isolation order at 12:00 today.”
Charité Hospital noted that the American doctor’s wife and children, who were also in quarantine, had not developed any symptoms of Ebola, adding that Stafford was reunited with his family on Saturday.
Read also | Congo reopens main airport at Ebola epicenter as officials brace for long outbreak
The US CDC issues a warning about the Bundibugyo tribe
According to a Bloomberg report, researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning on Friday that the current Ebola outbreak could become one of the largest outbreaks of the disease ever recorded if control measures are not accelerated.
Public health workers struggled to contain the epidemic in the war-torn region, where years of conflict have displaced more than five million people. Travel restrictions between Congo, Uganda and other countries have made it difficult to quickly transport doctors and aid. In addition, the response is hampered by cuts in United States public health and foreign aid resources.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that while the U.S. wants to send resources to the outbreak, the nation’s “number one” priority is to prevent Ebola. Washington said it would open a quarantine facility in Kenya to monitor exposed Americans and send any infected individuals to Europe for treatment. However, this move was suspended by a court in Kenya.
The U.S. added travel restrictions for people arriving from Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, including people with green cards, and set up testing centers at four U.S. airports.
Read also | India bans cross-border transport of Ebola-infected human remains
In addition to the US, several other countries, including Canada, have also announced travel restrictions.
Ebola outbreak
Health authorities have warned of an outbreak of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus in Congo, which has now crossed into neighboring Uganda. Officials believe the outbreak may be more widespread than current data suggests. Unlike the more common Zaire strain of Ebola, the Bundibugyo variant has no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
As of Thursday, Congo had reported 452 confirmed cases and 82 confirmed deaths, while Uganda had 19 confirmed cases and two confirmed deaths as of Friday, according to official figures from the Congolese and Ugandan health ministries.
