American Tests Positive for Ebola in DRC: First US Case in 2026 Outbreak — What the CDC Is Doing

# American Tests Positive for Ebola in DRC: First US Case in 2026 Outbreak — What the CDC Is Doing

> **Quick answer:** Dr. Peter Stafford, an American physician working in Bunia, DRC, tested positive for the Bundibugyo ebolavirus on May 18, 2026 — making him the first American case in the current outbreak. He is being evacuated to Germany for treatment. The U.S. has imposed its first-ever Ebola travel ban and launched airport screening. The CDC says the risk to the American public remains low, but the domestic threat perception has shifted significantly.

An American doctor working in northeastern DRC has tested positive for Ebola Bundibugyo — a strain with no approved vaccine and no licensed treatment. The confirmation of the first American case in the 2026 outbreak has triggered a cascade of new U.S. public health measures, including the first Ebola-specific travel ban in American history.

*This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Consult a healthcare provider for medical concerns.*

## Who Is the American Patient and Where Was He?

Dr. Peter Stafford is a physician who has been working at Nyankunde Hospital in Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province in northeastern DRC, since 2023. He works for Serge, a Christian humanitarian aid organization. Stafford developed symptoms over the weekend of May 17-18 and tested positive for Bundibugyo ebolavirus late Sunday night, according to NBC News.