US authorities say missionary who contracted Ebola en route to Germany

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda has caused at least 134 deaths, with more than 500 suspected cases. The World Health Organization reported deep concern about the scale and speed of the epidemic, and a leader in the DRC expects it to continue for at least two more months. The United States is transporting a medical missionary who contracted Ebola to Charite University Hospital in Berlin for treatment after a request for assistance. Arrangements are being made to admit and treat the patient in Germany. The CDC is also finalizing transport of six high-risk contacts to Europe for quarantine monitoring, with most going to Germany and one to the Czech Republic. The CDC stated the current risk to the US remains low and is coordinating with health departments.

"The World Health Organization (WHO) says the death toll from the outbreak has risen to 134, as experts warn of continued challenges. Health authorities in the United States have said that a medical missionary who contracted Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is being transported to Germany for treatment. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Tuesday that the patient would be treated at Charite University Hospital in Berlin following a US request for assistance."

"Global health authorities said on Tuesday that an outbreak of a rare kind of Ebola virus in the DRC and Uganda has killed more than 130 people, with more than 500 suspected cases. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic. The leader of the WHO's team in the DRC said she anticipates the outbreak to last at least another two months."

"In the US, Dr Satish Pillai, the incident manager for the CDC Ebola response, told reporters in a phone call that plans are being finalised to transport six other people considered to be high-risk contacts to Europe. The individuals are travelling to Europe, including in Germany, and they will be in quarantine during their monitoring period, Pillai said, adding that one person would be going to the Czech Republic while the rest will go to Germany. Pillai also emphasised that the current risk to the US from the outbreak remains low."

"Arrangements are currently being made to admit and treat the patient in Germany, a spokesperson said. The US citizen has been identified as Peter Stafford by the Serge Christian mission organisation. The CDC said the patient would be treated at Charite University Hospital in Berlin following a US request for assistance."

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