US Worker Contracts Ebola In Congo, Evacuated To Germany; CDC Announces New Screening Measures

US Worker Contracts Ebola In Congo, Evacuated To Germany; CDC Announces New Screening Measures Published By, Last Updated: May 19, 2026, 17:48 IST Officials with the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the American worker was being evacuated to Germany. Rapid Read A man is carried from an ambulance in Congo following confirmation of an Ebola outbreak. (Reuters/File) US health authorities have confirmed that an American citizen has contracted Ebola after being exposed to the virus during their work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The US has initiated new travel screening measures in response to the ongoing epidemic in DRC and Uganda. Officials with the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the case on Monday and said the individual was being evacuated to Germany, reported The Guardian. Satish K Pillai, an incident manager for the CDC’s Ebola response, said the American individual developed symptoms over the weekend and tested positive on Sunday. The American is among seven people who are in the process of being evacuated to receive treatment, Pillai said. About 25 people are working in the US office in DRC amid the outbreak, and the CDC is sending another person from Atlanta. ALSO READ: ‘It Doesn’t Spread Like Covid’: 7 Biggest Ebola Myths Busted As WHO Warns About ‘Scale & Speed’ Of Outbreak Ebola Outbreak In Africa The current outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, has been reported in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. While there is no vaccine for this strain of the Ebola virus, WHO is reportedly studying whether other drugs may provide protection. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared it a “public health emergency of international concern", saying it may be spreading faster than originally thought. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there have been 500 suspected cases so far and 130 deaths in DRC. US Authorities Tighten Screening Measures The CDC and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced enhanced public health screening and monitoring for travellers arriving in the United States from the ebola-affected region. US entry restrictions to non-US passport holders would be enacted for travelers if they have been in Uganda, the DRC or South Sudan in the past 21 days. Additionally, airlines and port-of-entry officials have been directed to identify travellers who may have been exposed to the virus and manage enhanced protection response activities, contact tracing and laboratory testing capacity. The CDC said the immediate risk to the general public was estimated to be low, but “we will continue to evaluate the evolving situation and may adjust public health measures as additional information becomes available." News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location: United States of America (USA) First Published: May 19, 2026, 17:38 IST News world US Worker Contracts Ebola In Congo, Evacuated To Germany; CDC Announces New Screening Measures Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...