FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Holly McAfee
Director of Communications, Serge
news@serge.org
101 West Avenue, Suite 305
Jenkintown, PA 19046
www.serge.org
______________________________________
American Medical Missionary who Contracted Ebola Discharged from German Hospital
Berlin, Germany — June 6, 2026 — Serge, an international Christian missions organization, confirmed today that American medical missionary Dr. Peter Stafford and his family were released from Berlin’s Charité University Hospital in Germany.
On May 20, 2026, Peter was admitted to Charité with a Bundibugyo Ebola virus infection to its special isolation ward. Since May 30th, no virus has been detected in the follow-up tests. The hospital statement today confirmed the complete absence of symptoms for more than 72 hours and a negative test result in repeated PCR tests, with the public health department able to lift the isolation order today.
Peter’s family, who had been classified as high-risk contacts, were in quarantine at the Charité hospital. Throughout the entire observation period, none of them showed any symptoms of infection. Regular laboratory tests also failed to detect the Bundibugyo Ebola virus.
Peter’s wife, Rebekah Stafford, told Serge leadership recently, “On behalf of our family, I (Rebekah) would like to express our deep gratitude to God for preserving Peter’s life and to everyone who has prayed and continues to pray on our behalf. We are happy to report that Peter has made significant improvements over the last few days and is now testing negative for Ebola.
After being diagnosed with Ebola, Peter’s condition initially declined rapidly. The morning of Peter’s evacuation, when he could not stand on his own, a Congolese doctor in full protective equipment placed his hand on Peter to stabilize him. Peter told the doctor that he hoped they would see each other again. The doctor confidently responded that they would and that God would bring him back. We are so thankful for the many Congolese, American, and German medical professionals who have compassionately cared for us during this time.
While Peter improves, our hearts remain with the Congolese medical community, its doctors, nurses, and frontline workers, who continue to risk their lives daily to care for the sick. They are our heroes.”
The Stafford family respectfully requests privacy at this time and will not be conducting interviews or releasing further statements. Media inquiries should be directed to Holly McAfee at news@serge.org. The family will not respond directly to press outreach.
Images © Charité | Pia Nitz
______________________________________
Asymptomatic American Medical Missionary Evacuated from DRC Releases Statement from Prague Hospital
Prague, Czech Republic — May 24, 2026 — Serge, an international Christian missions organization, confirmed today that American medical missionary, 46-year-old Dr. Patrick LaRochelle, continues to remain asymptomatic in a Prague hospital. Over the last 72 hours, Dr. LaRochelle has isolated in a BioBox chamber after high-risk exposure to Ebola. He is an Internal Medicine and Pediatrics physician who teaches and mentors medical students, provides specialty consultations, and facilitates quality medical care at Centre Medical Evangelique (CME) Bunia Hospital in Bunia, DRC.
Today, Dr. LaRochelle shared a written update with Serge leadership:
It is hard to be separated from my family, friends, and colleagues in Congo. I’m thankful to the Czech people for allowing me to come and be monitored here, and to the many people who worked night and day to get me and the Staffords to care. I want to thank God that my teammate Peter Stafford is recovering from Ebola—and that his wife Rebekah, his children, and I have remained free of the infection thus far. Standing helpless as Peter worsened prior to his medical evacuation, I had a glimpse of the reality that my Congolese friends and colleagues are living constantly, and for which a medical evacuation is not an option.
I can say that I have seen the commitment of the Congolese doctors leading the response. And I’ve seen the context in which they are working: an outbreak already out of control by the time it was recognized, a region in a constant state of conflict between multiple rebel groups since 2017, a province 1000 miles away from the capital, and a health system under-resourced both in diagnostic and treatment capacity. The challenges are overwhelming, and it’s easy for me to lose hope. But what gives me hope is my colleagues who are fighting for the lives of every patient, risking so much to follow their call to heal the sick, and then many hundreds and thousands—both Congolese and expatriate—who are mobilizing to come fight Ebola with them. We are encouraged by their lives and are honored to know them and serve alongside them. We are amazed to see them not flinch or draw back in the face of so much danger and chaos.”
Patrick remains in contact with Congolese colleagues who have sent updates from the regions most affected by the outbreak.
- Dr. D, a medical director, shared that he’s going to the camp more often than normal to model to his staff that continuing to care well for this community and maintaining their trust is the most important way to love them and mitigate the spread of this disease.
- Nurse T had no masks, gloves, or gowns. The LaRochelles were able to supply those with the help of their network, and Nurse T is continuing to care for this community of 8,000 displaced people at one of the epicenters of the epidemic. He is courageously leading people toward safe practices.
Dr. LaRochelle requests prayer on behalf of courageous Congolese medical workers and for the arrival of more protective equipment and treatments. He also asks for prayer that the transmission of this virus stops, and that a vaccine designed to treat this strain of the virus would be developed quickly. Serge requests prayer for Dr. LaRochelle and the Stafford family to remain healthy and for Dr. Peter Stafford’s condition to improve daily.
Out of respect for the family’s privacy, Serge requests that media outlets refrain from contacting family members directly or publishing images of the Stafford and LaRochelle children.
Additional updates will be provided as verified information becomes available.
Support Congo Recovery
_________________________________________________
Ebola-infected American Medical Missionary Receiving Superb Medical Care in His Fight for Survival
BERLIN, GERMANY — May 21, 2026 — Leaders at Serge, an international Christian missions organization, are hearing from Ebola-infected American medical missionary Dr. Peter Stafford, who is now receiving superb care.
Peter shared, “Before I was evacuated I was feeling really concerned I wasn’t going to make it. And now I’m cautiously optimistic.”
Dr. Scott Myhre, Serge’s Area Director for East and Central Africa, says as of today, Peter is critically ill but not acutely deteriorating. “I was able to speak with Peter briefly by phone on the morning of May 21 and he reports he’s feeling better than he was yesterday and is beginning to eat small amounts of food. Peter is continuing to show the predictable sequence of Ebola signs and symptoms. He passed through the first days of nonspecific symptoms (fever, aches, fatigue), and has now passed into a phase with vomiting, diarrhea, and rash, with labs trending slightly in the right direction.”
“Peter has also received two intravenous treatments designed to improve Ebola outcomes,” said Dr. Myhre. “The German care teams rotate in 3 hour shifts since they must wear full-body hazmat suits as they care for him. We’re thankful for their dedication and expertise.”
Dr. Peter Stafford’s wife, Dr. Rebekah Stafford, and their four children landed in Berlin just before 10:00 p.m. local time and have moved into a separate space within Berlin’s Charite University Hospital. They are all asymptomatic and will continue to isolate and be monitored. Dr. Peter Stafford’s family was able to see him through a window and the hospital staff say they hope to provide that level of access periodically. Both Drs. Stafford say they were relieved to have had the opportunity to see each other and were finally able to have their first few hours of peaceful sleep following the window greeting.
The Staffords’ colleague Dr. Patrick LaRochelle is now in Bulovka Hospital in Prague, in quarantine and being monitored, and he remains asymptomatic. Dr. Rebekah Stafford and Dr. Patrick LaRochelle had been potentially exposed by their work at Nyankunde and Bunia Hospitals in DRC.
Serge requests prayer:
- for the full recovery of Dr. Peter Stafford, the sustained health of his wife, Dr. Rebekah Stafford, and their four young children, and for the sustained health of Dr. Patrick LaRochelle.
- for two Congolese hospital colleagues who are now confirmed ebola-positive, along with so many others in the Congolese community who are sick or serving the sick.
- for the rapid escalation of the international response needed to supply the Congolese with what is needed to stem the outbreak and save lives.
Out of respect for the family’s privacy, Serge requests that media outlets refrain from contacting family members directly or publishing images of the Stafford children.
Additional updates will be provided as verified information becomes available.
Support the Stafford Family
_______________________________________
Ebola-Positive American Medical Missionary Relocated and Receiving Specialty Care in Germany
BERLIN, GERMANY — May 20, 2026 — Serge, an international Christian missions organization, confirmed today that American medical missionary Dr. Peter Stafford is now receiving Ebola-specific care at Berlin’s Charite University Hospital in Germany. As of today, all Serge workers with potential exposure have been safely evacuated from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“We received confirmation that Dr. Peter Stafford safely arrived at Charite University Hospital in Germany, where he will receive the highest level of clinical care and treatment,” said Dr. Scott Myhre, Serge Area Director for East and Central Africa. “The complex, coordinated efforts of many government agencies and international health authorities resulted in Peter Stafford’s safe transport and the protection of those involved in his transfer. Serge leadership extends their deepest gratitude to all involved in Peter’s care and is praying for all involved in the fight to end this ebolavirus outbreak for the good of the people of the DRC.”
Dr. Stafford, a 39-year-old board-certified general surgeon with a specialization in burn care, tested positive for Bundibugyo ebolavirus after serving patients in Nyankunde, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Ituri Province, before an outbreak was identified.
Peter’s 38-year-old wife, Dr. Rebekah Stafford, and their four young children, along with 46-year-old Dr. Patrick LaRochelle, have departed DRC and are en route to other locations where they can be monitored in close proximity to expert care if needed. Dr. Rebekah Stafford and Dr. Patrick LaRochelle had been potentially exposed by their work at Hospitals in Nyankunde and Bunia, DRC. They have been following established quarantine and monitoring protocols and remain asymptomatic.
Serge is asking for continued prayer for the full recovery of Dr. Peter Stafford, the sustained health of his wife, Dr. Rebekah Stafford, and their four young children, and for the sustained health of Dr. Patrick LaRochelle.
Out of respect for the family’s privacy, Serge requests that media outlets refrain from contacting family members directly or publishing images of the Stafford children.
Additional updates will be provided as verified information becomes available.
Support the Stafford Family
_______________________________________
BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO — May 19, 2026 —Serge, an international Christian missions organization, confirmed today that American medical missionary Dr. Peter Stafford has been safely evacuated and is receiving specialized medical treatment after testing positive for the Bundibugyo ebolavirus while serving in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Dr. Stafford, a board-certified general surgeon with a specialization in burn care, was serving patients in Bunia, in eastern DRC’s Ituri Province, where an Ebola outbreak was recently identified. Following the onset of the outbreak, he began to develop symptoms and received a positive test result for the Bundibugyo ebolavirus variant. He has been transferred for advanced medical care.
Two additional physicians who were potentially exposed — Dr. Rebekah Stafford and Dr. Patrick LaRochelle — remain asymptomatic and continue to follow established quarantine and monitoring protocols. All medical personnel involved adhered carefully to international standards throughout their service.
Serge leadership expressed gratitude for the coordinated international response.
“Our hearts are with the Stafford family and with the Congolese communities facing this outbreak,” said Matt Allison, Executive Director of Serge. “Peter and Rebekah have faithfully served vulnerable communities in Nyankunde with extraordinary compassion and courage. We are deeply grateful for the medical teams, government agencies, and international partners working together to provide care, contain the outbreak, and protect lives. Serge’s experienced leadership and field personnel know the Ituri region well and have previously served during Ebola response efforts. We are praying for healing, protection, and mercy for all affected.”
Serge is asking for continued prayer for Dr. Peter Stafford, his wife, Dr. Rebekah Stafford, their four young children, the medical teams serving in the region, and the Congolese communities impacted by the outbreak.
Out of respect for the family’s privacy, Serge requests that media outlets refrain from contacting family members directly or publishing images of the Stafford children.
Additional updates will be provided as verified information becomes available.
________________________________________
American Medical Missionary Tests Positive for Ebola
in Democratic Republic of Congo
BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO — May 18, 2026 — Serge, an international Christian missions organization, confirmed today that medical missionary Dr. Peter Stafford has tested positive for the Bundibugyo ebolavirus variant in Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Dr. Stafford was exposed while treating patients at Nyankunde Hospital, where he has served with Serge since 2023.
Dr. Stafford sought testing under the guidance of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) after presenting symptoms consistent with the virus.
Dr. Stafford is currently one of three Serge medical missionaries who were treating patients in the region when the outbreak began. The other two physicians, including his wife, Dr. Rebekah Stafford, and Dr. Patrick LaRochelle, remain asymptomatic. All three medical professionals have strictly adhered to established quarantine protocols since the potential exposure.
Serge leadership is grateful for international cooperation to safely care for Dr. Peter Stafford, Dr. Rebekah Stafford, their four young children, and Dr. Patrick LaRochelle in a location where they can undergo continued risk monitoring and receive specialized medical care.
“Our medical teams labor in some of the most demanding settings in the world, serving vulnerable communities who have limited access to healthcare,” said Joel Hylton, Serge’s Senior Director of Mission. “We are profoundly grateful for their dedication to the people of the DRC, and we deeply lament the hardship they are enduring under this current threat. Our concern extends equally to our Congolese colleagues and friends in the region who face these same risks.”
This diagnosis follows a joint announcement on Friday, May 15, by the Africa CDC and the DRC’s Ministry of Health confirming a new Ebola epidemic in the Ituri Province. To date, authorities have documented 390 suspected cases and 100 fatalities. The epicenter of the outbreak is located in Mongwalu, approximately 25 miles north of the Serge team’s base in Bunia.
Serge requests urgent prayer and support for the health, protection, and resilience of the affected families, their medical colleagues, and the local Congolese communities currently impacted by the outbreak.
We ask that you respect the families’ privacy at this time and refrain from contacting them directly or using photos of their children. Further updates will be provided as official information becomes available. All inquiries should be directed to Holly McAfee, Director of Communications at news@serge.org.
About Serge
Serge is an international mission organization that sends workers to serve globally in healthcare, education, church planting, business, and community development, partnering with local communities to bring hope and restoration to some of the world’s most vulnerable regions. Serge sends and cares for more than 325 missionaries in 29 countries.
