France confirms first Ebola case outside Africa during current outbreak

Public health experts continue to say that the risk of the outbreak spreading globally is low

France has confirmed its first Ebola case during the current outbreak. The patient is a doctor who recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the disease is spreading.

Health officials said this is the first Ebola case detected outside Africa during the ongoing outbreak. According to the French Health Ministry, the doctor traveled on a commercial flight from Kinshasa to Paris. The patient had only mild symptoms before the flight, mainly headaches. However, their condition became slightly worse during the journey. Medical teams isolated the patient immediately after landing and provided treatment before Ebola was officially confirmed.

Officials said the patient is in stable condition and has a very low viral load. Health authorities are now tracing people who may have come into contact with the doctor. The French government said it is closely monitoring the situation. The current Ebola outbreak in the DRC was declared on May 15 after several unexplained deaths in the eastern Ituri province. The region has faced ongoing security challenges due to the presence of armed groups.

More than 1,000 Ebola cases have been reported so far, including 267 deaths. The fatality rate is around 25 percent. Experts believe the actual number of cases may be higher because many affected areas are remote and difficult to reach.

The outbreak is being caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. At present, there is no approved vaccine or treatment for this strain. Existing Ebola vaccines only work against the Zaire strain, which caused previous major outbreaks. Earlier this year, an American surgeon who contracted Ebola in the DRC was taken to Germany for treatment. The doctor later recovered and was discharged from hospital after receiving medical care and experimental therapies.

Public health experts continue to say that the risk of the outbreak spreading globally is low. French Health Ministry cited the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, which considers the risk low for travelers and very low for the general population in Europe.