American confirmed with Ebola as US screens airports and suspends visas

A border health officer at a crossing between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo checks a traveller's temperature amid an Ebola outbreak in the region. Photo / AFP

An American has contracted the deadly Ebola virus while working in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that “the person developed symptoms over the weekend and tested positive late Sunday”, and that efforts were underway to transport the individual to Germany for treatment.

The United States announced that it was bolstering precautions to prevent the spread of Ebola, including screening air travellers from outbreak-hit areas and temporarily suspending visa services from the region.

The public health measures announced by the CDC come as the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak an international health emergency.

More than 90 people have died in the current outbreak.

The CDC said the immediate risk to the general US public as low but that it would continue to evaluate the evolving situation and may adjust public health measures as additional information became available.

In addition to screening at airports, the CDC said it was implementing entry restrictions on non-US passport holders if they had travelled to Uganda, DRC or South Sudan within the past 21 days.

The US embassy in Kampala meanwhile said it had temporarily paused all visa services, and that affected applicants had been notified.

The CDC said over the weekend that it was working to co-ordinate “the safe withdrawal of a small number of Americans who are directly affected by this outbreak”.

There is no vaccine or specific treatment for the strain responsible for the current spread of the highly contagious haemorrhagic fever.

There have been 91 reported deaths and around 350 suspected cases. Most of those affected are aged between 20 and 39 and more than 60% are women.

The US under President Donald Trump formally withdrew from the WHO this year. CDC officials have emphasised that they are collaborating with international partners as well as health officials in affected countries.

- AFP