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.
