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U.S. Citizen Tests Positive for Ebola in Democratic Republic of Congo
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- A U.S. citizen working with a humanitarian organization in the Democratic Republic of Congo has tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a rare form of the virus with no targeted vaccines or treatments.
- The CDC is collaborating with U.S. agencies, the person's employer, and Congolese health authorities to prevent further transmission and trace close contacts.
- The ongoing Ebola outbreak in Congo has resulted in over 600 deaths out of nearly 1,800 cases, with the virus also spreading to Uganda, which has reported 20 confirmed cases and two deaths.
- Previous plans by the Trump administration to quarantine exposed Americans in Kenya sparked protests and legal challenges, and no clear strategy has since been established for managing U.S. citizens exposed to Ebola abroad.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio initially declared no Ebola patients would enter the U.S., but later softened this position amid evolving outbreak management efforts.
