An American doctor who contracted Ebola while working in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been flown to Germany for specialist treatment, as global health authorities warn that the fast-growing outbreak could worsen across Central and East Africa.
The infected doctor, identified as Dr Peter Stafford, was evacuated alongside his wife and four children after testing positive for the deadly Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which currently has no approved vaccine or targeted treatment.
The World Health Organization has described the outbreak as a serious international health emergency, warning that the “scale and speed” of infections in eastern Congo are deeply concerning.
According to health authorities, at least 139 suspected deaths and more than 600 suspected cases have now been recorded, mainly in Congo’s conflict-hit Ituri province, while neighbouring Uganda has also confirmed infections linked to the outbreak.
Dr Stafford, a surgeon and missionary with the Christian medical organization Serge, had reportedly operated on a patient at Nyankunde Hospital before authorities realized Ebola was circulating in the area.
The patient, initially believed to be suffering from a severe gallbladder condition, died shortly after surgery and was buried before Ebola testing could be conducted.
Days later, Stafford developed symptoms and tested positive for the virus.
Officials familiar with the evacuation said the American surgeon was visibly weak before departing for Germany.
“He looked really tired and really sick,” Dr Scott Myhre, a regional director for Serge, told NBC News, describing how Stafford struggled to walk unaided while being escorted by personnel in full protective equipment.
Myhre noted that despite following standard surgical precautions, the exposure still occurred because Ebola can spread through infected bodily fluids during medical procedures.
The WHO said the Bundibugyo strain is spreading rapidly in parts of eastern Congo, including urban centres, raising fears of broader regional transmission.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that case numbers are expected to rise further in coming weeks.
“We know that the scale of the epidemic in DRC is much larger,” Tedros said during a health briefing.
Although health agencies currently assess the risk of a global pandemic as low, African health authorities remain concerned about cross-border spread due to regional travel and weak healthcare systems in affected areas.
Uganda has already confirmed imported cases linked to the Congo outbreak, while neighbouring countries including Kenya and Nigeria have stepped up surveillance and emergency preparedness measures.
The outbreak is adding to mounting concerns among health experts over the increasing frequency of deadly infectious disease outbreaks across Africa and globally.
Congo has experienced multiple Ebola outbreaks since the virus was first identified in 1976, but the latest resurgence comes amid ongoing insecurity in eastern regions where armed conflict continues to complicate humanitarian and medical responses.
Health workers in affected communities are battling limited medical supplies, poor infrastructure and growing public fear as authorities intensify screening, isolation and contact tracing efforts.
The WHO and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have urged governments across the continent to strengthen disease surveillance systems and emergency response coordination to prevent further escalation.
