Patrick LaRochelle, an American missionary doctor, currently resides in a specialized medical facility in Prague. He awaits confirmation on whether he has contracted Ebola. Meanwhile, his former colleagues in the Democratic Republic of Congo are facing the deadly effects of the disease.
As of May 26, 2026, whispers of what is being referred to as the ‘casket disease’ have surfaced. This term describes the sudden waves of deaths as patients succumb to Ebola.
Just days earlier, LaRochelle was moments from boarding a flight from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was en route with his wife and three children, preparing for a summer visit back to the United States.
A Red Cross volunteer speaks to people during a public awareness campaign amid the Ebola outbreak in Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo. (Moses Sawasawa/AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)
As he awaits his own medical results, the situation in Congo continues to worsen, claiming the lives of those he worked alongside. The urgency of the outbreak underscores the critical need for rapid response and containment efforts to prevent further casualties.
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