Ebola outbreak

France confirms first Ebola case – doctor infected

France has confirmed its first case of Ebola, reports Reuters. A doctor who returned from a humanitarian operation in Congo-Kinshasa has tested positive for the virus, according to the country's health ministry.

The patient is being treated in isolation and contact tracing is underway. The authority assesses that the risk to the European public is low.

The Ebola outbreak in Congo-Kinshasa has so far infected over 1,000 people and claimed 267 lives, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Ebola outbreak— that's the point

• The Ebola outbreak in Congo-Kinshasa has led to over 1,000 confirmed cases and at least 254 deaths since mid-May 2026.
• The virus, of the Bundibugyo variant, lacks a vaccine and treatment and has spread to Uganda and risks reaching more countries.
• The WHO has declared an international emergency and sent experts to Ituri province, where the outbreak is at its worst and where armed conflict is hampering efforts.
• Mistrust of authorities, attacks on health workers and difficult conditions in refugee camps have made it difficult to combat the infection.
• Lack of resources, materials and funding, as well as rapidly increasing case numbers, mean that the outbreak is not yet under control.