American doctor Peter Stafford returns home after battling Ebola
Dr. Peter Stafford, his wife Rebekah Stafford, and their four children arrived safely in the U.S. on Monday, according to Serge, a Pennsylvania-based Christian missions organization. Stafford has been Ebola-free since May 30.
“I am filled with gratitude to God for preserving my life, to all those who prayed on my behalf, and to the many medical providers who cared for me,” Stafford said. “I am feeling well and thankful to be reunited with Rebekah and the kids.”
Other missionaries and their families serving in Congo alongside Stafford have also been released from care and monitoring and returned to the U.S., Serge said.
Stafford contracted the virus last month while working with the missionary group in Congo. He was evacuated to a hospital in Berlin on May 20 for treatment and discharged on June 6, according to Serge. His wife, also a doctor volunteering with the organization, and their four children were evacuated and quarantined at Charité hospital.
Neither Rebekah nor the four children developed symptoms of Ebola while quarantined.
The Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak in Congo has spread to neighboring Uganda, causing concern among health officials. The Bundibugyo strain is significantly less common than the Zaire strain and has no vaccines or treatment available.
As of Saturday, there have been 782 confirmed cases and 178 confirmed deaths in Congo, while in Uganda as of Sunday, there were 19 confirmed cases and two confirmed deaths, according to respective health ministries.