France’s Ministry of Health announced Wednesday that a confirmed case of Ebola virus has been detected in the country, involving a patient who had recently returned from Congo.
The patient, whose identity has not been released, had been taking part in a humanitarian mission in an area of Congo where the virus is actively spreading. Upon returning to France, the individual was placed in the care of a specialized medical facility and is currently reported to be in stable condition.
According to Congo’s health ministry, the outbreak there has now reached 1,094 confirmed cases, with 277 confirmed deaths. The current outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no vaccines or approved treatments currently exist.
Health authorities have acknowledged that the true scale of the outbreak may be much larger than the confirmed numbers suggest, and that the worst of it may still be ahead. The outbreak was officially declared on May 15.
French health officials said that all necessary precautions were put in place as soon as the patient arrived in the country, including immediate isolation. The transfer to a hospital was conducted under strict protocols designed to eliminate any risk of the virus spreading.
“An in-depth epidemiological investigation is underway to identify individuals who may have been in contact with the patient,” the health ministry stated. A regional health agency will monitor any potential contacts closely during a 21-day home isolation period.
