US health officials are monitoring several Americans after exposure to Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
At least six Americans have reportedly been exposed to the Ebola virus during the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to sources cited by CBS News.
One American is believed to be showing symptoms, while three others reportedly experienced high-risk exposure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is assisting with the safe evacuation of a small number of affected Americans, although it did not confirm exact figures.
The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak a global public health emergency after DR Congo reported around 350 suspected cases and 91 deaths. Uganda has also confirmed cases linked to the outbreak.
Health officials say the current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. The WHO has warned that the outbreak could spread further across the region if urgent containment measures fail.
Neighbouring countries, including Rwanda and Nigeria, have increased border screening and surveillance as fears of regional spread continue to grow.
Global health agencies say rapid isolation, monitoring and cross-border cooperation will be critical to stopping the outbreak from escalating further.
