At Least Six Americans Exposed Amid Congo Ebola Outbreak Declared Global Emergency

At least six Americans have been exposed to the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to sources with international aid organizations, though it remains unclear if any have been infected. Three of these Americans faced high-risk exposure, and one was symptomatic, CBS News reported, citing these sources. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed it is supporting efforts to safely withdraw a small number of Americans directly affected by the outbreak.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in Congo and neighboring Uganda a “public health emergency of international concern” this week. As of Sunday, more than 300 suspected cases and at least 88 suspected deaths have been reported, primarily in eastern Congo’s Ituri province but also in Uganda and the Congolese capital, Kinshasa. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a rare type for which no approved vaccine or treatment currently exists.

The WHO has expressed concern over the late detection of the outbreak and its spread across multiple regions, including the city of Goma, recently captured by the rebel group M23, complicating containment efforts. The organization noted significant uncertainties regarding the true number of infections and geographic spread. In response, a team of 35 WHO and Congolese Health Ministry experts arrived in Bunia, Ituri’s capital, with seven tons of emergency medical supplies.

The CDC has issued travel advisories urging Americans in Congo and Uganda to practice enhanced precautions and avoid contact with symptomatic individuals. Symptoms of Ebola include fever, muscle pain, rash, headache, vomiting, severe weakness, abdominal pain, and bleeding. The virus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids and does not transmit via casual contact or airborne routes. The CDC emphasized that the risk to the American public remains low but continues to monitor the situation closely.

The U.S. State Department stated it is collaborating with the governments of Congo and Uganda to contain the virus and is mobilizing support to international partners such as UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration, and the International Medical Corps. However, the department did not directly address questions about the impact of prior cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on outbreak preparedness.

Health officials and aid organizations have voiced alarm over the outbreak’s rapid spread and severity. Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa CDC, told Sky News he was in “panic mode” due to shortages of medicines and vaccines amid rising deaths. Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) announced plans to rapidly scale up its medical response, with emergency program manager Trish Newport describing the situation as “extremely concerning.”

Jeremy Konyndyk, president of Refugees International and former leader of the U.S. COVID-19 response at USAID, highlighted on social media the diminished U.S. international outbreak response capacity. He noted that during the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic, USAID and CDC, supported by the U.S. military, led the global response, but now “most of the international infrastructure that we relied on in past outbreaks…has been DOGE-d,” referring to organizational cuts. He added, “USAID is gone and CDC is decimated.”

The DRC closed its land border with Rwanda on Sunday as part of containment measures. The WHO continues to support governments and agencies in combating the outbreak, emphasizing the challenges posed by regional conflict and the virus’s spread across borders.