Ebola outbreak: first case identified in France, in a doctor returning from the DRC

For the first time, a case of Ebola has been identified on French territory, in a doctor returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is currently facing a major epidemic, French health authorities announced on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Health "confirms today the identification of the first positive case of Ebola virus disease on national territory," it said in a statement, specifying that the patient has been isolated. When contacted by AFP, the ministry indicated that the case was identified in mainland France.

The situation is being monitored "very closely" by the Prime Minister, according to his entourage.

This is the first time a case of Ebola has been diagnosed in France. In 2014, during a major epidemic in West Africa, two patients were admitted to French territory, but after having been diagnosed abroad.

However, a few cases had been detected at the time on American or British soil.

In this case, the DRC, from where the diagnosed doctor was returning, is currently experiencing a major epidemic of this disease, which results in a hemorrhagic fever that is very often fatal.

The French case is the first identified outside the African continent for this epidemic which is also affecting Uganda, and involves a rare strain of the virus, known as Bundibugyo, against which there is neither a vaccine nor a specific treatment.

Public health experts widely believe that the risk of transmission of the epidemic remains low worldwide, due to the relatively low contagiousness of the Ebola virus.

"The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has judged the risk of infection to be low for European residents and travellers going to areas of active circulation, and very low for the general European population," the Ministry of Health recalls.

"All precautionary measures, including the isolation of the patient, were taken upon his arrival on national territory with a transfer to the hospital under secure conditions in order to avoid any risk of contamination," he also assured.

An investigation is underway to identify any potential contact cases who will be required to self-isolate at home for 21 days.

The WHO indicated in mid-June that the transmission of the epidemic was accelerating in the DRC despite strengthened health response measures. According to official figures, 896 cases have been recorded, including 232 deaths, but many experts believe the true extent is likely underestimated, as the epidemic is affecting very remote regions.