PARIS — French health authorities said on Wednesday that the risk of Ebola virus importation from Africa had materialized after a doctor returning from a humanitarian mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) tested positive for the disease, prompting isolation measures and contact tracing while officials stressed that the risk to the general public remains low.
The French Ministry of Health confirmed the case, marking the first Ebola infection detected in France during the current Central African outbreak. The patient, identified as a physician who had worked in a high-transmission area of the DRC, was transferred to a specialized medical facility and was reported to be in stable condition, according to ministry statements.
“All precautionary measures, including the patient's isolation, were taken upon his arrival in the country,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that the transfer to hospital was conducted under secure conditions to prevent any risk of contamination.
French authorities launched an epidemiological investigation to identify people who may have been exposed to the patient. Health officials said identified contacts would be monitored and required to isolate for a period consistent with Ebola surveillance protocols. Reuters reported that several passengers seated near the doctor during the flight to France were also placed under precautionary monitoring.
The case comes amid a large Ebola outbreak in the DRC linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus. The World Health Organization has classified the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern, while French and European authorities have increased surveillance measures in response to the epidemic.
French officials had previously warned of a potential importation risk. In May, the government said it had mobilized health and diplomatic authorities to monitor the outbreak and implement precautionary measures, including enhanced surveillance in French territories.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said this month that importation of Ebola cases into the European Union and European Economic Area was possible given travel links with affected regions, although it assessed the overall risk to European residents as low and the risk to the broader population as very low.
As of Thursday, French health authorities said the infected doctor remained in isolation and that contact-tracing efforts were continuing. Officials reiterated that no evidence of local transmission had been reported and that the risk to the general population remained very low.
