Ebola outbreak: WHO declares emergency, US bans travel, America’s virus

There are four strains of the virus known to cause Ebola in humans, and three have caused major outbreaks (Zaire, Sudan, and Bundibugyo). The most common problem is Zaire, where drugs and vaccines have been developed. The parasite is spread from animals, including primates and non-human bats, and causes a severe fever, characterized by diarrhea, vomiting, and bleeding. Person-to-person transmission occurs through contact with body fluids and symptoms can last between two and 21 days – although usually eight to 10 days – after exposure.

The CDC’s response to America’s virus

On Monday morning, the CDC announced on its website that it was working new travel restrictionsincluding screening and monitoring of Americans arriving from the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan, as well as restricting the entry of non-US citizens who have traveled to these countries in the past 21 days.

Additionally, in a CDC press release on Monday afternoon, Captain Satish Pillai, director of the CDC’s Ebola response, said one American in the DRC became ill after being exposed as part of their work there. The man developed symptoms over the weekend and tested positive on Sunday. The CDC is now working to transfer that person, along with 6 other Americans, to Germany, where they will receive treatment. Pillai did not respond to questions about the man or his work.

Serge, a group of Christian missionaries, announced that who is infected with Dr. Peter Staffordwho has been working at the Nyankunde hospital in Bunia, DRC, since 2023. The other six people the CDC is working to relocate are his wife, Dr. Rebekah Stafford, the family’s four children, is the third doctor of the organization, Dr. Patrick LaRochelle. All three doctors showed up, the organization said, but Rebekah Stafford and LaRochelle are currently asymptomatic.

Pillai also said that the CDC considers the risk to Americans to be low.