Dr. Peter Stafford, an American physician working with the missionary group Serge in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
He said in a statement that before his evacuation to a hospital in Berlin, he feared he wasn't going to make it. Now, he is cautiously optimistic.
Stafford was infected while performing surgery at Nyankunde Hospital in Bunia. His wife, Dr. Rebekah Stafford, and their four children were also evacuated and are being monitored. They remain asymptomatic.
This is only the third known outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Health officials warn the outbreak is likely larger than reported, with nearly 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths across Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan.
Serge officials report Stafford is receiving supportive care including IV treatments designed to improve Ebola outcomes. His labs are trending slightly in the right direction.
The U.S. State Department now requires travelers from the affected region to enter through Washington-Dulles International Airport.