American Aid Worker Tests Positive for Ebola in Congo Outbreak

A U.S. citizen working with a humanitarian organization in Congo has tested positive for Ebola as the country battles what health officials call the fastest-growing outbreak in African history, with 1,830 cases and 648 deaths so far.

An American citizen employed by a humanitarian group in Congo has contracted the Ebola virus, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed on Friday. The news lands at a moment when the Central African country is struggling to contain an outbreak that is spreading at an alarming pace.

The CDC said it is working alongside the infected person’s employer, several U.S. government agencies, public health officials, and local partners in Congo to stop the virus from spreading further and to track down anyone who may have come into contact with the individual. Beyond that, the agency has not released further specifics.

This isn’t the first time an American has been caught up in the crisis. Earlier on, a U.S. doctor working in Congo also contracted the virus and had to be flown to Germany for treatment.

Efforts to bring the outbreak under control have run into serious obstacles. Money to fund the response has fallen short, health facilities have come under attack, and the broader conflict in eastern Congo, which sits at the heart of the outbreak, has made the situation even harder to manage.

There is at least one positive development. Clinical trials for possible treatments got underway last week, giving health workers a small measure of hope as they continue the fight.