- An American Ebola patient has been transferred to Germany for specialised treatment
- The patient worked in eastern DR Congo, where the outbreak is ongoing
- German authorities said the case poses no risk to the public
Germany has admitted another American infected with Ebola for specialised treatment, as health authorities continue to respond to the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Eko Hot Blog reports that the patient was flown into Frankfurt and immediately transferred to the University Hospital Frankfurt, where doctors are providing further medical care under strict isolation procedures.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that the patient is a humanitarian worker who had been operating in Bunia, a city in the DRC’s Ituri Province, which remains the centre of the current Ebola outbreak.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the patient had been receiving treatment and close medical supervision before being evacuated to Germany for continued care.
The latest Ebola outbreak in the DRC was declared in May and is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus. Unlike some other strains, there is currently no licensed vaccine or approved antiviral treatment specifically for this variant.
Health officials report that the outbreak has resulted in more than 1,900 confirmed infections and over 700 deaths.
German authorities reassured the public that the patient does not pose a risk to residents, explaining that all necessary infection-control protocols are being followed at the treatment facility.
They also stressed that the possibility of Ebola spreading into Germany remains extremely low because of the country’s strict disease surveillance and containment measures.
According to the ministry, the United States requested Germany’s support because of its recognised expertise in handling Ebola cases and the shorter travel distance from central Africa.
This is the second American Ebola patient to receive treatment in Germany within a few weeks. A previous patient admitted to Berlin’s Charité Hospital recovered after undergoing treatment in isolation before being discharged.
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