The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Friday that a U.S. citizen employed by a humanitarian organization in Congo has tested positive for the Ebola virus. This development comes as the Central African nation faces significant challenges in managing a rapidly expanding outbreak of the disease.
In response to the case, the CDC stated it is collaborating with the individual’s employer, various U.S. agencies, Congolese health authorities, and other partners to identify close contacts and prevent further transmission of the virus. While no specific details regarding the patient were released, a State Department spokesperson confirmed the government is aware of the situation and is actively facilitating support for the affected American citizen.
Data from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention indicates this is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever documented on the continent. As of this week, there are 1,830 confirmed cases in Congo, resulting in 648 deaths, with additional cases identified in neighboring Uganda. The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which has no approved vaccine or treatment. It often causes deadly symptoms. Last week, clinical trials for treatment began after researchers launched a highly anticipated study in the hope of fighting the virus.
Meanwhile, an ongoing conflict in eastern Congo has led thousands of people to flee the violence, spreading the virus further. Mistrust and attacks on health centers have also hampered the response. Doctors and other healthcare workers often do not have adequate protective gear, which can leave them vulnerable to the virus. Congolese authorities officially declared the outbreak on May 15, noting that the virus had been circulating for weeks prior to detection.
The Trump administration has requested $1.4 billion in supplemental funding from Congress to address the crisis in Congo, Uganda, and other affected regions. Previous plans to transport exposed Americans to a new facility in Kenya were suspended following a court order in that country. Earlier in the outbreak, another American doctor who contracted the virus in Congo was successfully treated in Germany and has since returned to the United States with his family.
Updated on: July 11, 2026 / 5:26 PM EDT / CBS/AP
The Congolese authorities declared a fresh Ebola outbreak on May 15, after the disease had been transmitting for weeks without official detection, according to the World Health Organization
