There are four strains of the virus known to cause Ebola in humans, and three have caused major outbreaks (Zaire, Sudan, and Bundibugyo). The most common type is Zaire, for which treatments and vaccines have been developed. The viruses are spread from animals, including nonhuman primates and bats, and cause severe hemorrhagic fever with diarrhea, vomiting, and bleeding. Person-to-person transmission occurs through contact with bodily fluids, and symptoms can develop between two and 21 days after exposure (more often eight to 10 days).
The CDC response and an infected America
On Monday morning, the CDC announced the implementation on its website new travel restrictionsincluding vetting and monitoring Americans arriving from the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan, while barring entry to non-US passport holders who have traveled to those countries in the past 21 days.
Additionally, at a CDC press briefing Monday afternoon, Capt. Satish Pillai, the CDC’s Ebola response incident manager, said an American in the DRC became infected after being exposed as part of his work there. The person developed symptoms over the weekend and tested positive late Sunday. The CDC is now working to transfer the man, along with six other Americans, to Germany, where they will be cared for. Pillai did not respond to questions about the man’s identity or work.
Serge, a Christian missionary organization, announced this infected person Dr. It’s Peter StaffordSince 2023, he has been working at Nyankunde Hospital, Bunia, DRC. The other six people the CDC is trying to transfer are his wife, Dr. Rebekah Stafford, the couple’s four children and the organization’s third doctor, Dr. It’s Patrick LaRochelle. All three doctors were exposed, but Rebekah Stafford and LaRochelle are currently asymptomatic, the organization said.
Pillai noted that the CDC considers the risk to the American public to be low.
