A hospital employee at CBCA Virunga Hospital uses a no-touch infrared thermometer to check the temperature of a visitor in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, on May 17, 2026.Jospin Mwisha/AFP via Getty Images
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention communicated in a declaration on Sunday that a "limited amount of Americans" are directly impacted by an Ebola epidemic unfolding in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"The CDC is collaborating with other U.S. departments to arrange the secure departure of the Americans," the CDC conveyed in its statement. The agency did not verify the count of individuals affected, the manner of contact, or if any persons had manifested indications.
"We refrain from discussing or commenting on specific cases," Dr. Satish Pillai, the CDC's incident commander for Ebola, expressed during a press briefing this Sunday. "The situation is extremely fluid, and currently, what I can mention is, we are continuously evaluating and will continue to update you as we gain further information."
On Saturday, the World Health Organization announced in a declaration that the Ebola flare-up in the DRC and Uganda represented a "global health crisis of international proportion."
A hospital employee at CBCA Virunga Hospital uses a no-touch infrared thermometer to check the temperature of a visitor in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, on May 17, 2026.Jospin Mwisha/AFP via Getty Images
As of Sunday, the CDC indicated a count of 10 verified Ebola instances and 336 potential cases in the DRC. There had been 88 presumed fatalities in the DRC, alongside a pair of authenticated instances and a solitary authenticated fatality in Uganda resulting from individuals having journeyed to the DRC.
The CDC communicated that the hazard to the American citizenry stays minimal. The Ebola virus propagates via intimate proximity to the biological liquids of an afflicted individual and does not disseminate through everyday encounters or via airborne transmission.
"CDC possesses extensive background and know-how in reacting to Ebola emergences," acting Director Jay Bhattacharya of the CDC stated during a conference call with correspondents on Friday. "It's a substantial outbreak, and information reached us just yesterday."
He further stated, "We're completely devoted to ensuring the provision of resources as needed. Our support extends to past Ebola outbreaks… and our experiences have taught us valuable lessons. The core point is recognizing our full involvement."
This represents the DRC's 17th Ebola occurrence since its initial appearance in the 1970s, as per the WHO.
This variant of Ebola stems from the Bundibugyo virus, for which there are currently no existing treatments or vaccines, according to the WHO.
The WHO has announced international global health crises concerning prior Ebola occurrences in addition to COVID-19 and mpox.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com