{"id":1568,"date":"2026-05-18T18:40:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T18:40:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/?p=1568"},"modified":"2026-05-18T18:40:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T18:40:26","slug":"us-says-american-contracted-ebola-in-congo-as-cdc-announces-new-travel-screening-measures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/?p=1568","title":{"rendered":"US says American contracted Ebola in Congo as CDC announces new travel screening measures"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"465518ee-ad92-4f03-b8ce-7ae3bf6f7068\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A health worker checks the temperature of a person in a car\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/df16f8faaf3d8db0810b57c80fe09da963d3e464\/0_0_3600_2395\/master\/3600.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"309.35416666666663\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Officials said that they are taking \u201cproactive measures\u201d to protect US citizens in response to the ongoing Ebola virus epidemic in the DRC and Uganda.<\/span> Photograph: Jospin Mwisha\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"465518ee-ad92-4f03-b8ce-7ae3bf6f7068\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Officials said that they are taking \u201cproactive measures\u201d to protect US citizens in response to the ongoing Ebola virus epidemic in the DRC and Uganda.<\/span> Photograph: Jospin Mwisha\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">US says American contracted Ebola in Congo as CDC announces new travel screening measures<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>Health officials to take \u2018proactive measures\u2019 in response to the ongoing Ebola virus epidemic in the DRC and Uganda<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/news\/2026\/feb\/17\/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&amp;utm_campaign=BN22326&amp;utm_content=signup&amp;utm_term=standfirst&amp;utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB\" data-link-name=\"in standfirst link\">Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">US health authorities confirmed on Monday that an American has developed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/ebola\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Ebola<\/a> after being exposed during their work in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/congo\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Democratic Republic of Congo<\/a> (DRC); officials also said that they are taking \u201cproactive measures\u201d to protect US citizens in response to the ongoing Ebola virus epidemic in the DRC and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/uganda\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Uganda<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the case on Monday and said the individual was being evacuated to Germany. They developed symptoms over the weekend and tested positive late Sunday, said Satish K Pillai, an incident manager for the CDC\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/ebola\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Ebola<\/a> response in a press conference.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">There are also six other people who are in the process of being evacuated, to receive treatment or monitoring, Pillai said. There are about 25 people working in the US office in DRC, and the CDC is sending another person from Atlanta, Georgia.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"759c3c7f-fc27-4ed7-9d7a-178001e0bf83\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-47fhrn\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-3 | 3\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1kyw41h\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-1bg5532\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/global-development\/2026\/may\/18\/infectious-diseases-hantavirus-ebola-more-frequent-damaging-pandemic-outbreak\" class=\"dcr-1m887w9\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-ut4tvs\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1h5b6rb\">\n<div class=\"dcr-169d7yv\">Infectious diseases such as hantavirus and Ebola becoming more frequent and damaging, say experts<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-eurq8n\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fkf7vq\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Based on \u201ccurrent epidemiological evidence, ongoing risk assessments, and the highly serious nature of EVD (Ebola virus disease)\u201d, the CDC and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/ebola\/situation-summary\/title-42-order.html\" data-link-name=\"in body link\"> said<\/a> earlier on Monday that they would introduce enhanced public health screening and monitoring for travelers arriving in the US from the region.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">US entry restrictions to non-US passport holders would be enacted for travelers if they have been in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/uganda\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Uganda<\/a>, the DRC or South Sudan in the past 21 days.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Airlines, international partners and port-of-entry officials have been directed to identify and manage travelers who may have been exposed to the virus and enhanced \u201cport health protection response activities, contact tracing, laboratory testing capacity, and hospital readiness nationwide\u201d had been enacted.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">There are 10 confirmed cases of Ebola, 336 suspected, and 88 deaths in the DRC. Among the dead are at least four health workers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The CDC said it assessed the immediate risk to the general US public as low, \u201cbut we will continue to evaluate the evolving situation and may adjust public health measures as additional information becomes available\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The agency further advised that anyone who has travelled through the affected countries to monitor CDC travel health notices and seek medical attention immediately if you develop symptoms consistent with Ebola.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The measures will last for an initial 30 days, the CDC said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The advisory comes after a number of Americans in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/congo\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Democratic Republic of the Congo<\/a> have been identified as \u201cdirectly affected\u201d by the outbreak of Ebola, with at least one who may have developed symptoms.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">CDC said in statement on Sunday that it was \u201csupporting interagency partners who are actively coordinating the safe withdrawal of a small number of Americans who are directly affected by this outbreak\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The advisory came a day after the World Health Organization <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news\/item\/17-05-2026-epidemic-of-ebola-disease-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-and-uganda-determined-a-public-health-emergency-of-international-concern\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">declared<\/a> a \u201cpublic health emergency of international concern\u201d caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus in the DRC and Uganda, and two days after an epidemic was first announced by Africa\u2019s top public health authority.<\/p>\n<figure data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.NewsletterSignupBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-ri3hap\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The outbreak was first identified in the country\u2019s north-eastern Ituri province, near the border with Uganda, South Sudan and Rwanda. That area was the location of the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history, which ran from 2018 to 2020, involving 3,470 cases and 2,287 deaths. However, it involved a different strain of the virus, known as Zaire ebolavirus, which is considered treatable.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The outbreak marks only the third time an outbreak of Bundibugyo has been detected. The two previous were in 2007 and 2012. It has a mortality rate of 25% to 50%. It has no targeted vaccine or treatment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Satish Pillai, the CDC\u2019s incident manager, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/media\/releases\/2026\/transcript-ebola-update-05-17-2026.html\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">said<\/a> on Sunday that it was a \u201chighly dynamic situation\u201d that the US was continuing to assess.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The Ebola outbreak comes less than two weeks since an outbreak of the rat-borne hantavirus abroad cruise ship MV Hondius required 16 Americans to be flown to a medical facility in Nebraska.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The WHO said Sunday that the first known suspected case, a health worker, developed symptoms on 24 April. They likely received it from someone brought in for care, indicating that the outbreak had been circulating for some time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The two infected people from the DRC travelled separately to the Ugandan capital of Kampala, where one died. The WHO says there is no indication of ongoing transmission the country.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US news<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/ebola\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Ebola<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/society\/health\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Health<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/congo\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Democratic Republic of the Congo<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/uganda\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Uganda<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=US%20says%20American%20contracted%20Ebola%20in%20Congo%20as%20CDC%20announces%20new%20travel%20screening%20measures&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/18\/us-ebola-virus-congo-uganda?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F18%2Fus-ebola-virus-congo-uganda&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/18\/us-ebola-virus-congo-uganda\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Officials said that they are taking \u201cproactive measures\u201d to protect US citizens in response to the ongoing Ebola<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":1570,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1568","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1568","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1568"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1568\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1571,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1568\/revisions\/1571"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1570"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1568"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1568"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1568"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}