American doctor in DR Congo who got Ebola was taken out of the country into Germany

A US doctor gets Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo while health officials are evacuating Americans who are at risk because the spread is getting worse.

An American doctor tested positive for Ebola while working with patients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and was flown to Germany for specialized care.

US health officials said the doctor got sick over the weekend after being introduced to the virus while working in eastern DR Congo with a medical missionary group.

The medical charity Serge later identified the doctor as Peter Stafford. Stafford is a surgeon who has worked at Nyankunde Hospital in Bunia since 2023.

The group said Stafford got Ebola while helping patients during the outbreak in Ituri province, which was getting worse.

The group said that his wife, Rebekah Stafford, who was also exposed to another doctor, had not shown any signs and was following the rules for quarantine.

The couple and their four kids were taken to a safe place to be watched and get special medical care.

The US government said that at least six other Americans who had been exposed to the virus were also being taken out of DR Congo.

Health experts say that more than 500 people may have been infected with Ebola, and at least 131 people have already died.

The World Health Organization declared the outbreak an international emergency, warning that it could worsen across the area.

The outbreak was caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which does not have a recognized vaccine or treatment at this time.

Ebola signs can manifest anywhere between two to twenty-one days after exposure. They usually start out mild, with fever, headaches, and tiredness, but then they get worse.

Since its last outbreak in West Africa from 2014 to 2016, the dangerous virus has raised more concerns. That outbreak killed more than 11,000 people.