US Doctor Infected with Ebola in Congo Discharged from Berlin Hospital

A U.S. doctor who contracted Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been released from a Berlin hospital after receiving experimental treatment. Charité University Hospital in the German capital announced that the patient, identified as Dr. Peter Stafford, and his five family members are in good health and have been cleared to leave.

Dr. Stafford, 39, was infected while performing surgery on an Ebola patient in eastern DRC before the official outbreak was declared on May 15. The Bundibugyo strain of the virus, which is currently circulating, has a high mortality rate, up to 50%. Ebola is known to spread through bodily fluids and close contact.

During his treatment, Dr. Stafford received experimental antiviral therapies currently under investigation for the virus. He expressed profound gratitude to the hospital and medical team, stating that "no words can fully express" his thankfulness. However, he also directed his thoughts toward the people in Congo who lack access to similar medical care.

The hospital confirmed that Dr. Stafford showed clear Ebola symptoms upon admission on May 20, but his viral load significantly decreased due to the antiviral treatment and supportive measures. No virus has been detected in his body since May 30. His wife, also a doctor, and their children, who were identified as high-risk contacts, had been quarantined.

The World Health Organization declared a public health emergency for the outbreak, which has affected the DRC and neighboring Uganda. As of June 5, the WHO reported a total of 471 cases and 84 deaths. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that the outbreak could become the largest Ebola epidemic on record.

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