American Doctor Infected with Ebola in Congo Evacuated to Berlin

An American doctor who contracted Ebola while working at a hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been evacuated to Berlin for treatment. Dr. Peter Stafford was performing surgery at Nyankunde Hospital in Bunia when he was exposed to the virus.

Serge, the medical missionary organization he works with, said he was flown to a hospital in Berlin on Tuesday. "Before I was evacuated I was feeling really concerned I wasn't going to make it. And now I'm cautiously optimistic," Stafford said in a statement shared by Serge.

Current Condition Serge director Dr.

Scott Myhre said Stafford is critically ill but not acutely deteriorating. Stafford has reported feeling better than the previous day and has been able to eat small amounts of food while experiencing vomiting, rash, and diarrhea. Medical labs are trending slightly in the right direction, and Stafford has received intravenous treatments designed to improve Ebola outcomes, Myhre said.

Family and Additional Cases Stafford's wife, Dr.

Rebekah Stafford, and their four children were also evacuated to Germany. They remain asymptomatic and are being isolated and monitored. A third Serge doctor, Dr. Patrick LaRochelle, is in quarantine at Bulovka Hospital in Prague after potential exposure. He has shown no symptoms so far.

The Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak in Congo has spread to neighboring Uganda and South Sudan. The World Health Organization has reported nearly 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths. This is only the third known outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain. There is no known vaccine or treatment for it.

U.S. The same rule applies to non-citizens.