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Health officials as of Wednesday had confirmed 51 cases caused by the Bundibugyo variant of the Ebola virus, for which there is no vaccine or approved treatment. More testing kits are being rushed to the area. Additionally, the World Health Organization has tracked 139 deaths and 600 cases suspected to be caused by Bundibugyo. The outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a few other cases in Uganda, are deemed a high risk for a regional epidemic, but a low risk globally, according to a briefing held by the World Health Organization “We expect those numbers to keep increasing, given the amount of time the virus was circulating before the outbreak was detected,” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters on Wednesday. Some of the cases are in urban areas, and there is significant population movement in the area, he said.

Any word on the U.S. medical missionary who was infected? Dr. Peter Stafford arrived safely at Charité University Hospital in Germany. Although there is a lack of approved treatments for the Bundibugyo variant, Stafford was receiving Ebola-specific care at the hospital, according to his ministry, Serge. The 39-year-old surgeon tested positive for Bundibugyo after working in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo before the outbreak there was identified, the international Christian missions organization said. His wife, Dr. Rebekah Stafford, and their four young children have also departed Congo to where they can be monitored with expert care nearby, Serge said. Dr. Patrick LaRochelle has also been evacuated from the country. LaRochelle and Rebekah Stafford were potentially exposed during their work in Congo hospitals. Since then, they have not shown symptoms but have continued to follow quarantine and monitoring guidelines.

Serge is asking for prayers for the full recovery of Peter Stafford and the sustained health of his wife, Rebekah, their children, and Dr. LaRochelle.

What is the United States doing? The U.S. Department of State on Tuesday activated a task force to deal with Ebola concerns. The task force will coordinate efforts between government agencies, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs. The task force is led by senior experts with direct experience managing prior Ebola outbreaks, including the 2014 and 2018 responses, the department said.