(Gray News) – An American doctor who tested positive for Ebola while working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was flown to Berlin, Germany, for “emergency treatment.”
Dr. Peter Stafford is also a Christian missionary in the country, according to Serge, the international charity he works for.
Stafford is getting treatment in a special isolation ward at the Charité hospital.
Dr. Peter Stafford, an American doctor and missionary, was flown to Germany after testing positive for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo.(Serge via CNN Newsource)
A “comprehensive examination” was taking place to determine how to proceed with treatment, German Health Ministry spokesperson Martin Elsässer said.
According to Serge, Stafford was unable to walk on his own when he was being flown to Berlin.
“He looked really tired and really sick,” Dr. Scott Myhre, East and Central Africa area director for Serge, told NBC News.
According to NBC News, Stafford operated on a 33-year-old patient who had severe abdominal pain days before the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the outbreak. At the time, doctors believed the patient had a gallbladder infection.
Stafford “did an abdominal procedure and found that the gallbladder was normal and closed him up, but this patient subsequently died the next day,” Myhre said.
The patient was buried before he could be tested for Ebola, but days later, officials realized he most likely died of Ebola.
Stafford began developing symptoms over the weekend and tested positive on Sunday.
His wife, Dr. Rebekah Stafford, the couple’s four children and another physician are being monitored for Ebola.
Health officials believe the Ebola outbreak has caused more than 130 deaths so far.
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