US Doctor Contracted Ebola in Congo, Now Cautiously Optimistic

Dr. Peter Stafford, an American doctor serving with the missionary group Serge in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has contracted the Bundibugyo ebolavirus. He was evacuated to Charite University Hospital in Berlin, Germany, for treatment and is reportedly "severely weakened but is not currently critically ill." Stafford expressed feeling "cautiously optimistic" about his recovery, a significant shift from his initial concerns.

His wife, Dr. Rebekah Stafford, and their four children, who also work with Serge, were evacuated with him. They remain asymptomatic and are being isolated and monitored in a separate part of the specialized unit. Dr. Stafford was exposed to the virus while performing surgery at Nyankunde Hospital in Bunia, a city in eastern Congo.

The World Health Organization has warned that the current Ebola outbreak in Congo, which has spread to Uganda, may be larger than officially reported, with nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths. The Bundibugyo strain has a fatality rate of 30-50% and currently has no known vaccine or treatment, though supportive care is being provided to Dr. Stafford.

Another Serge doctor, Dr. Patrick LaRochelle, who may have been exposed, is in quarantine in Prague but remains asymptomatic. In response to the outbreak, U.S. authorities have implemented new travel restrictions for individuals returning from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan.