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US Surgeon Recovers from Deadly Ebola Strain in Germany
7 Jun
Summary
- US surgeon recovered from Ebola after 17 days of care.
- Patient received experimental therapies for the Bundibugyo strain.
- Ebola outbreak has infected 471 and caused 84 deaths in DRC and Uganda.
A US surgeon who contracted Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo has successfully recovered and was discharged from a German hospital on Saturday, June 7, 2026. The patient, identified as Dr. Peter Stafford, spent 17 days receiving medical treatment at the Charite public hospital in Berlin.
Dr. Stafford, a surgeon for a Christian missionary group, contracted the virus after operating on a patient with Ebola in eastern DRC prior to the outbreak's official declaration on May 15. The specific Bundibugyo strain affecting the region has no approved vaccines or treatments, but Dr. Stafford received care that included experimental therapies. Initially admitted with pronounced symptoms and a high viral load, his condition improved significantly, with no virus detected since May 30.
The outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Uganda has resulted in 471 reported infections and 84 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. The WHO has declared an international public health emergency, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned it could become the largest Ebola epidemic on record.
Dr. Stafford and his five family members, including his wife who is also a doctor, had been under quarantine as high-risk contacts. They were all discharged on Saturday in good health. Dr. Stafford expressed gratitude for his care and extended his thoughts to those in the Congo without access to similar medical attention.
