France confirms first Ebola case linked to DR Congo outbreak
A first case of Ebola was confirmed in France on Wednesday, with the patient identified as a doctor returning from a humanitarian mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the epidemic is raging.
“All precautionary measures, including the isolation of the patient, were taken as soon as he arrived on national territory, with a transfer to hospital under secure conditions in order to avoid any risk of contamination,” the French health ministry said in a statement.
The ministry added that the patient was admitted to a specialised treatment facility and remains in a stable condition.
More than 1,000 cases have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the outbreak began in mid-May, causing at least 267 deaths. Uganda has also reported 20 confirmed cases and two deaths.
The health ministry said the patient is being treated under strict biosecurity protocols as authorities work to identify anyone who may have come into contact with the infected doctor.
“These individuals will be contacted without delay by the regional health agency, will undergo a 21-day home isolation period, and will benefit from close monitoring throughout this period,” the statement added.
The situation in Europe remains stable. In Germany, an American surgeon who contracted Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was discharged from a Berlin hospital on Saturday after recovering from the virus.
The man, who had been working for a Christian missionary group in the DRC, spent 17 days in quarantine with his family before they were discharged over the weekend.
Despite the outbreak’s progression, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) continues to assess the risk to people in the EU as low. However, it notes that information remains limited and that the situation should be monitored closely.
(aw)
