A deadly Ebola outbreak in Central Africa has now infected an American doctor for the first time. Dr. Peter Stafford, a medical missionary working in the Democratic Republic of Congo, tested positive after treating patients during the growing outbreak. The World Health Organization officially declared the crisis a global public health emergency on May 17, 2026.
Stafford, who worked at Nyankunde Hospital in Bunia, began showing symptoms shortly after exposure. His wife and another missionary doctor remain symptom-free and are under quarantine with their families. Instead of being brought back to the U.S., Stafford is being transferred to Germany for treatment because of its experience handling Ebola cases.
The CDC and U.S. government have already issued temporary travel restrictions for people recently in Uganda, Congo, or South Sudan while increasing airport screenings and hospital preparedness nationwide. Officials say the overall risk to Americans remains low.
The outbreak has already caused dozens of deaths in Congo and Uganda. Health experts confirmed the virus strain as Bundibugyo Ebola, a rare form with a fatality rate between 25% and 50%. There is currently no approved vaccine for this strain.
Symptoms include fever, severe headaches, vomiting, stomach pain, and bleeding. Health authorities continue urging travelers and healthcare workers to follow strict safety precautions as efforts to contain the outbreak continue.
