US Sends Second Ebola Patient to Germany

A US citizen engaged in humanitarian work in the Democratic Republic of Congo has tested positive for the Ebola virus, marking the second American to contract the disease during the ongoing outbreak. This individual will be transferred to Germany for treatment, mirroring the fate of another American infected with Ebola who was also sent to Germany. The current Ebola outbreak in the DRC, declared on May 15, has become the third-largest on record. As of July 12, the Democratic Republic of Congo has reported 1,926 cases and 702 deaths attributed to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebolavirus. The US government, under the Trump administration, has implemented strict travel restrictions and has chosen not to repatriate citizens who have been exposed to or infected with the virus. This policy stands in contrast to the availability of multiple facilities within the United States equipped to safely monitor and treat Ebola patients. The decision to send infected citizens abroad for care highlights a departure from previous approaches to handling such public health crises involving American nationals.