Washington, May 19, 2026
German authorities are preparing to receive a United States citizen infected with the Ebola virus following a request from U.S. officials for medical support.
The German Health Ministry confirmed on Tuesday that arrangements were being made for the patient’s admission, although further details about the treatment process were not disclosed.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the individual had been working in the Democratic Republic of Congo before testing positive for the virus late on Sunday.
Officials said the patient would be transferred to Germany due to the country’s expertise in handling Ebola cases and its relatively shorter flight distance. Six individuals considered high-risk contacts are also expected to accompany the patient.
Authorities did not reveal the identities or nationalities of those involved, and the specific medical facility designated for treatment in Germany has not yet been announced.
Reports from U.S. media indicated that the infected person is a medical doctor. A Christian missionary organisation also stated that an American healthcare worker contracted Ebola while caring for patients at a hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda an international health emergency.
Health experts noted that the outbreak is linked to a rare strain of the virus for which no approved vaccine currently exists, raising concerns over a possible wider regional spread.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said the outbreak is believed to have started around the third week of April, although it was only officially reported in early May.