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American doctor with Ebola evacuated in Germany, while wife and four kids are monitored in Congo.
When the American physician who was contracted Ebola the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday was flown to Germany to receive treatment, he could barely stand on his feet, according to the two leaders of the Christian Missionary Group where he worked. Subscribe to read the story without ads
Get access to adfree articles and exclusive content. Dr. Scott Myhre – the East and Central Africa Area Director for the group called Serge – described the scene when Dr. Peter Stafford was leaving. Myhre described the scene as Dr. Peter Stafford left. “There were many people dressed in PPE (personal protective equipment), which is a full-coverage outfit, and they are all completely covered. He was barely strong enough walk on his own,” Myhre explained. He looked very tired and sick.
Stafford was working at Nyankunde Hospital in Congo’s Ituri Province, where the
took place. Myhre stated that Stafford operated days before the
on a 33 year old patient who had severe abdominal pain. The patient’s doctors initially thought he had a gallbladder disease. Myhre stated that
had performed an abdominal surgery and found out the gallbladder wasn’t abnormal. They closed him up but the patient died the next morning. Ebola outbreak They discovered days later that they had likely died of Ebola. The patient was buried without being tested. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Stafford began showing symptoms between the weekend and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the outbreak time period. Myhre, Stafford’s colleague, said that Stafford is a meticulous professional. “He would wear sterile clothing, gloves, hats, and glasses for each surgical case,” Myhre added. Stafford’s wife Rebekah Stafford is also a physician and treated the patient. Myhre says that she and her four children are currently in the Democratic Republic of Congo where they’re being monitored. According to Myhre, another physician, Dr. Patrick LaRochelle was also exposed by a second patient. He is currently being monitored. No one has shown any signs of illness. Myhre told reporters that “we don’t often see cases of Ebola in children, and we certainly hope this isn’t the case here.” Myhre said that Stafford was quarantined as soon as symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches and fatigue began. Myhre stated that Stafford was put in a plastic tube bed “the size of a small casket” to prevent the crew from becoming infected on the flight to Germany.
According to World Health Organization leaders, the virus’s incubation time is 21 days. The “scale and pace of the epidemic” has caused them to express serious concern. The [Stafford] It is believed that at least 131 central Africans have died, and 531 others are suspected of being infected.
This outbreak of Ebola is caused by a less common strain known as tested positive for Ebola on Sunday, which does not have a vaccine or approved treatment. The WHO reports that the death rate during
ranged between 30% and 50%.