An American surgeon infected with Ebola in Congo was transported to Germany for treatment on Tuesday, barely able to support himself, as revealed by leaders from the Christian missionary group he was affiliated with.
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Dr. Scott Maile, East and Central Africa Regional Director for Serge Group, explains the situation surrounding Dr. Peter Stafford’s departure.
“There were individuals wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), but they were entirely covered while he clung onto it with barely enough strength to walk. He appeared extremely fatigued and unwell,” said Maile.
At 39, Stafford was working at Nyankunde Hospital in Congo’s Ituri province, which is currently the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak. Maile stated that days before the outbreak confirmation by the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Stafford operated on a 33-year-old patient who presented severe abdominal pain, initially believed to be a gallbladder infection.
Dr. Stafford recounted, “We conducted an abdominal procedure, found the gallbladder to be normal, and closed it, but unfortunately, the patient passed away the following day.”
Subsequent investigations revealed that the patient, who had been buried prior to testing, likely succumbed to Ebola. Stafford began to exhibit symptoms over the weekend and tested positive for Ebola on Sunday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“He practices meticulous professionalism, donning sterile clothing, gloves, a hat, and glasses for every surgical operation,” Maile stated. “Yet, this alone is insufficient to prevent Ebola transmission.”
Stafford’s wife, Rebecca Stafford, 38, is also a physician who treated the same patient.
Maile confirmed that both she and their four young children are under observation. A colleague, Dr. Patrick Larochelle, 46, is also believed to have contracted the virus from another patient and is likewise being monitored, though all individuals are currently symptom-free.
In a statement released Wednesday, Serge announced that all affected individuals “have departed the DRC and are en route to locations where they can be closely monitored and receive specialized care if needed.” The Staffords have traveled to Germany, while Larochelle has been transported to Brovka Hospital in Prague, which is equipped with facilities for managing highly infectious diseases, according to the Czech Ministry of Health.
Maile reported that Stafford was immediately isolated after presenting symptoms such as chills, fever, muscle pain, fatigue, and nausea.
During the flight to Germany, Stafford was placed on a cylindrical plastic bed, akin to a coffin, to mitigate any risk of infection to the crew on board.
The virus can have an incubation period extending up to 21 days, as noted by the World Health Organization, which has expressed grave concerns about the outbreak’s “scale and speed.”
It appears the virus had been circulating for several weeks prior to the outbreak’s confirmation, with the death toll sharply increasing—at least 131 fatalities with 531 confirmed infections across Central Africa.
The strain of Ebola causing this outbreak is the less common Bundibugyo type, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment. The mortality rate in previous Bundibugyo outbreaks, according to WHO data, ranged from 30% to 50%. For more details, refer to the previous Bundibugyo outbreak information.
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Source: www.nbcnews.com