At least 131 people have died in the latest Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with health officials reporting more than 513 suspected cases as fears grow over possible regional spread.

The outbreak, centred in Ituri province, has prompted an international emergency response, with the World Health Organization (WHO) warning that the situation could become significantly worse if containment measures fail.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that an American doctor working in DR Congo tested positive for Ebola after being exposed while treating patients at Nyankunde Hospital in Bunia.

The medical missionary group Serge later identified the infected doctor as Peter Stafford, a surgeon who has been working in DR Congo since 2023 alongside his wife, Rebekah Stafford.

According to the organisation, Stafford developed symptoms over the weekend and was evacuated to Germany for specialised treatment. His wife and another doctor who were also exposed to Ebola patients are currently under quarantine and being monitored for symptoms.

The couple, who met while studying at Ohio State University, moved to Africa in 2019 and previously worked in Togo before relocating to DR Congo.

The CDC said it was also working to evacuate at least six other Americans who may have been exposed to the virus.

In response to the outbreak, the US government has imposed fresh travel restrictions under Title 42, temporarily barring non-citizens from entering the country if they have recently visited outbreak-affected nations including Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan within the past 21 days.

US President Donald Trump said he was concerned about the outbreak but maintained that there was currently no evidence of spread within the United States.

The WHO has classified the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The current outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments.

Health experts warn that Ebola symptoms can appear between two and 21 days after infection, often beginning suddenly with fever, fatigue and headaches before progressing into severe illness.

The outbreak has revived memories of the devastating 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola epidemic, which infected more than 28,000 people and killed over 11,000 across several countries.