First Ebola Case Confirmed In France As Congo Outbreak Tops 1,000 Infections

Published 24 June 2026 · health

First Ebola Case Confirmed In France As Congo Outbreak Tops 1,000 Infections Published By, Last Updated: June 24, 2026, 15:04 IST France has activated emergency

First Ebola Case Confirmed In France As Congo Outbreak Tops 1,000 Infections Published By, Last Updated: June 24, 2026, 15:04 IST France has activated emergency protocols after detecting its first Ebola patient, as Congo battles a growing outbreak that has killed over 250 people. Rapid Read Medical workers dressed in personal protective equipment (PPE) disinfect their equipment at an Ebola treatment centre (Photo: Reuters) France has confirmed its first positive case of Ebola virus disease on its territory, involving a doctor who recently returned from a humanitarian mission in an area of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where the virus is currently circulating. The French Ministry of Health, Families, Autonomy, and Persons with Disabilities announced on Wednesday that the patient had been immediately admitted to a specialised medical facility and was in stable condition. In a statement, the ministry said, “The Ministry of Health, Families, Autonomy, and Persons with Disabilities today confirmed the identification of the first positive case of Ebola virus disease in France." The patient had returned from the area where authorities are battling a rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak.

French authorities said all precautionary measures were implemented as soon as the patient arrived in the country. According to the ministry, the patient was transferred under secure conditions to a specialised healthcare facility equipped to manage highly transmissible infectious diseases. The individual is being treated under strict biological safety protocols, including isolation in a negative-pressure room and the use of dedicated equipment and procedures. “The health authorities are fully mobilised, and the situation is being continuously monitored," the statement, as shared by BNO News, mentioned. Officials added that a comprehensive epidemiological investigation has been launched to identify anyone who may have come into contact with the patient. Those identified as contacts will be informed by the regional health agency, placed under home isolation for 21 days and closely monitored throughout the observation period. The ministry stressed that all necessary measures, including the patient’s isolation, were taken immediately upon arrival in France to prevent any risk of contamination. WHO EMERGENCY DECLARATION The confirmed case comes weeks after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17 due to the active circulation of the Ebola virus in Ituri Province in the DRC.