France confirms first Ebola case

France has reported a case of Ebola, according to the country's Health Ministry.

In a statement, the ministry said that Ebola virus disease was detected in a doctor who recently returned from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The statement noted that this is the first Ebola case detected in France during the current outbreak and said Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is closely monitoring the situation. The doctor has been isolated, is in stable condition, and health authorities have launched contact-tracing measures, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency.

Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon told reporters that health officials would provide further details later, while stressing that the situation remains under control.

The Ebola outbreak was declared in the DRC on May 15 after hundreds of suspected cases and dozens of deaths were reported in the eastern province of Ituri. The outbreak has since grown to more than 1,000 confirmed cases and over 270 deaths. It is linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in May. Health authorities in France and Europe have emphasized that the risk to the general public remains low.

Photo: WHO