US Humanitarian Worker Tests Positive for Ebola Amid Worsening DR Congo Outbreak

A United States citizen working for a humanitarian organization in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, as health authorities race to contain one of Africa’s fastest-growing Ebola outbreaks. The case was confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday, prompting an international response involving U.S. agencies, Congolese health officials and humanitarian partners.

According to the CDC, the infected individual was employed by a humanitarian organization operating in the DRC. Officials did not release the patient’s identity or provide details about their condition, citing privacy concerns. The agency said it is working closely with the person’s employer, other U.S. federal agencies and health authorities in the DRC to identify high-risk contacts, strengthen surveillance and prevent further transmission of the virus.

The infection comes as the Democratic Republic of the Congo battles a rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak that has become the largest currently active on the African continent. As of Friday, health authorities had recorded 1,830 confirmed cases and 648 deaths since the outbreak was declared on May 15. The outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, a rare variant for which there is currently no licensed vaccine or approved specific treatment, making containment efforts particularly challenging.

Public health experts say the response has been complicated by persistent insecurity in eastern Congo, attacks on healthcare facilities, funding shortages and logistical challenges that have hindered contact tracing and patient care. Earlier this month, international researchers launched clinical trials in Bunia to evaluate experimental therapies, including antiviral drugs and antibody treatments, in the hope of improving survival rates for patients infected with the Bundibugyo strain.

The latest case also follows an earlier incident in May when another American healthcare worker contracted Ebola while serving in the DRC and was transferred to Germany for specialist treatment. That patient later stabilized under intensive medical care, while family members who had been quarantined tested negative for the virus.

Despite the new infection, the CDC emphasized that no Ebola cases have been confirmed within the United States and said the overall risk to the American public and travelers remains low. The agency noted that the outbreak is largely confined to affected areas of the DRC and neighboring Uganda, and it continues to monitor the situation closely while coordinating with international partners.

Health officials are urging humanitarian workers, medical personnel and travelers in affected regions to remain vigilant, follow strict infection-prevention measures and immediately report symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea or unexplained bleeding. The World Health Organization and African health agencies continue to support the Congolese government’s response, warning that sustained international assistance will be essential to preventing the outbreak from spreading further.