An American has tested positive for Ebola, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on May 18. The American has not been identified.
The person was exposed as part of their work in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the Ebola outbreak started recently, Dr. Satish K. Pillai, the CDC's manager for Ebola response, told reporters on a call on Monday. Details of that work were not revealed.
The person developed symptoms over the weekend and tested positive late Sunday.
Ebola has an average mortality rate of about 50 percent. African officials have reported 80 suspected and confirmed deaths in the outbreak, which is centered in Congo's Ituri province.
U.S. officials are working to move the infected American, as well as six others who were exposed to Ebola, to Germany.
"The key point here is that we are doing this to ensure that they are at the level of care that they can receive the given treatment or observation that's required," Pillai said.
"There's an individual, and there is a family, and we know that all individuals that are high-risk contacts are traveling," Pillai said when asked whether the seven individuals were related.
The CDC has warned travelers to central Africa to avoid sick people, report symptoms immediately, and follow other travel guidance, including avoiding the Ituri province in Congo.
Pillai said that the Ebola risk to the United States remains low.