France - Ebola: First case identified in a humanitarian doctor returning from a mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - recovered and was

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Ebola: First case identified in a humanitarian doctor returning from a mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Published on 24.06.26
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The Ministry of Health, Families, Autonomy, and Persons with Disabilities today confirmed the identification of the first positive case of Ebola virus disease in the country. The patient, who had returned from a humanitarian mission in one of the areas where the virus is circulating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was immediately admitted to a specialized facility and is in stable condition.

France has specialized capabilities for managing highly transmissible infectious diseases. Patients are treated in a designated healthcare facility, following strict biosafety protocols (negative pressure room, dedicated equipment and protocols). Health authorities are fully mobilized and the situation is being continuously monitored.

All precautionary measures, including the patient's isolation, were taken upon his arrival in the country, with transfer to the hospital under secure conditions to prevent any risk of contamination. A thorough epidemiological investigation is underway to identify individuals who may have been in contact with the patient. These individuals will be contacted without delay by the regional health agency, will undergo 21 days of home isolation, and will be closely monitored during this period.

Following the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 17 in response to the active circulation of the Ebola virus in Ituri Province, DRC, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has assessed the risk of infection as low for European residents and travelers to areas of active transmission, and very low for the general European population.

A dedicated monitoring system is in place for the return of French aid workers to the
national territory.

What is the Ebola virus?

Ebola virus disease is a serious and often fatal illness. The virus is
transmitted to humans from wild animals and then from person to person
through direct contact with:

• Bodily fluids (blood, saliva, urine, semen, breast milk, sweat, feces and vomit from infected persons, whether alive or not);
• The bodies of people who died from Ebola virus disease;
• Objects that have been contaminated by the bodily fluids of infected patients (e.g., needles);
• - Bushmeat from wild animals.

The disease is characterized by high fevers and often fatal hemorrhages. The incubation period, that is, the time between contact with the virus and the appearance of the first symptoms, varies from 2 to 21 days. As long as they do not show symptoms, infected individuals are not contagious . Currently, there is no specific treatment for Ebola virus disease; treatment focuses on managing the symptoms, particularly through rehydration.

What are the health recommendations?

Given the absence of the virus circulating on French territory, the precautionary health recommendations apply mainly to the French territories bordering the Indian Ocean, and to travelers going to or returning to the DRC in the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu and Uganda.

1/ For French nationals currently in the country, it is recommended to avoid areas experiencing outbreaks of the epidemic and, if this is impossible, to:

• Respect basic hygiene rules, including regular hand washing;
• Avoid close contact with people who have a fever. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with blood or bodily fluids;
• Avoid all contact with wild animals, alive or dead;
• Do not consume or handle bushmeat.

2/ For travelers going to areas where the virus is circulating, it is recommended that those who can postpone their trip, especially the most vulnerable (elderly people, people with disabilities, pregnant women, or those with comorbidities).
If the trip must proceed, it is recommended to follow the aforementioned health guidelines and to:

• Regularly consult the information from the embassy or the "Travel Advice" section of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs;
• Register for free on the Ariane Thread , in order to receive in real time all information and alerts from the French authorities;

3/ For travelers returning to France from an area with active virus transmission, the following is required:

• Monitor your temperature every day for 21 days;
• If you develop a fever of 38°C or higher, and up to 21 days after returning to France, contact 15 immediately and await instructions. Do not go to your doctor or the hospital emergency room.

To learn more:

• Ebola Virus Disease - Ministry of Health, Family, Autonomy and Persons with Disabilities
• Prevention and control measures for Ebola Virus Disease - Ministry of Health, Family, Autonomy and Persons with Disabilities
• Ebola virus disease

Press contacts:

Health Crisis Centre, Ministry of Health, Families, Autonomy and Persons with Disabilities : alertes-presse@sante.gouv.fr
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https://sante.gouv.fr/actualites-pr...-cas-chez-un-medecin-humanitaire-de-retour-de

 

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​6:08 AM · Jun 24, 2026​

 

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Humanitarian worker infected, five possible contact cases… What we know about the first Ebola case detected in France

The man who tested positive is a doctor who participated in a mission to combat the disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He received immediate medical attention and his symptoms are mild, but there is no vaccine or specific treatment for this strain of the virus.

Article written byfranceinfo with AFP
France Télévisions
Published 24/06/2026 16:55
Updated 17 minutes ago

This is a historic first that France could have done without. The Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday, June 24, "the identification of the first positive case of Ebola virus disease on national territory . "

The man, a humanitarian doctor on a mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where the virus is circulating , was taken into care upon his arrival in France, according to authorities. Here is what we know about the patient and the risks of transmission.

A humanitarian doctor returning from the DRC

According to the ministry, the man infected with the Ebola virus is a doctor working for the humanitarian NGO Alima, who had recently returned from a humanitarian mission in one of the virus's transmission zones in eastern DRC. The patient, who "fully complied with health guidelines," according to the Ministry of Health, arrived in Paris on Tuesday aboard a commercial flight from the Congolese capital, Kinshasa. Air France confirmed to AFP that it was flight AF736 from Kinshasa to Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

The NGO Alima, which claims to be "the first to intervene on the ground" since the start of the epidemic in the DRC and to a lesser extent in Uganda, asserts in a statement on X that the organization is seeking to "understand how the contamination could have occurred," given that humanitarian workers are normally required to quarantine for three weeks after contact with infected individuals. "Contamination prevention measures have been in place since the beginning of our intervention to protect our teams ," the organization asserts.

Mild symptoms and viral load

The patient was "almost asymptomatic" when boarding the airliner, suffering only from "headaches ," according to the Ministry of Health. "His condition deteriorated slightly during the flight ," according to the same source, which added that "his viral load is very low ." Appearing on France 2 Wednesday evening, Health Minister Stéphanie Rist explained that "he experienced headaches on the plane and raised the alarm" so that he could be treated upon arrival in Paris. "He will be in isolation for 21 days, the duration of the incubation period."

A statement released by the ministry this morning assures that the patient is "in stable condition ." The outbreak involves a rare strain of the virus, known as Bundibugyo , against which there is no vaccine or specific treatment.

Immediate care in a specialized facility

The infected doctor was isolated upon arrival at the airport. He is "being cared for in a reference health facility, according to strict biosafety protocols (negative pressure room, dedicated equipment and protocols)" , where he was transferred "under secure conditions to avoid any risk of contamination" , the Ministry of Health detailed in a press release sent this morning.

"Health authorities are fully mobilized and the situation is being constantly monitored ," the ministry reassured. The situation is also being "closely monitored by the Prime Minister ," Matignon confirmed.

Five possible isolated contact cases

Five people who were on the plane with the doctor diagnosed with Ebola upon his return to France from Kinshasa are considered possible contact cases and have been placed in isolation, Health Minister Stéphanie Rist told France 2 on Wednesday evening. On the flight bringing back this humanitarian doctor from the Democratic Republic of Congo, "there are five people who are considered possible contacts and, as a precaution, they have been identified and placed in isolation," the minister explained.

The risk of contamination in France is very low.

In the context of this epidemic, France is the first country outside of Africa to confirm that a case has been diagnosed on its territory. In 2014, during a major epidemic in West Africa, two patients were admitted to France, but only after having been diagnosed abroad.

But the World Health Organization (WHO) and public health experts believe that the risk of the epidemic spreading globally remains "low ," due to the relatively low contagiousness of the Ebola virus. According to the Pasteur Institute Ebola virus transmission between humans can occur directly (via the blood or bodily fluids of infected individuals, such as urine, saliva, sweat, or semen) or indirectly, via objects or surfaces contaminated by these fluids. The risk of transmission via aerosols is very limited, according to the same source.

"The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has assessed the risk of infection as low for European residents and travelers going to areas with active transmission, and very low for the general European population ," the Ministry of Health noted. "Dedicated monitoring is in place for the return of French aid workers to the country ," according to the same source.

According to the latest official figures, 1,048 cases of Ebola virus infection have been recorded, including 267 deaths, representing a case fatality rate of approximately 25%. However, many experts believe the scale of the epidemic is likely underestimated, as it is affecting very remote regions.

https://www.franceinfo.fr/sante/mal...r-cas-d-ebola-detecte-en-france_8077706.html​

 

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Africa CDC Calls for Solidarity and Stronger Collaboration Following Imported Ebola Case in France and Reinforces Cross-Border Surveillance

​ 25 June 2026
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A health worker who supported the Ebola response in Ituri developed symptoms after arrival in France and was diagnosed quickly. Africa CDC calls for continued vigilance, solidarity, and stronger support for frontline teams working to end the outbreak.

ADDIS ABABA, 24 June 2026 – A humanitarian health worker who supported the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been diagnosed with Ebola Virus Disease in France.

The health authorities of France and the DRC have notified Africa CDC of the confirmed case, caused by the Bundibugyo virus. The health worker developed symptoms after arrival in France, sought care promptly, and was diagnosed without delay. The surveillance and reporting systems designed for this type of situation worked.

The health worker supported the Ebola response in Ituri Province from 19 May to 19 June. After completing the deployment, he left the DRC in good health and travelled to France. He later developed mild symptoms and sought medical care. Laboratory testing confirmed infection with the Bundibugyo Ebola virus.

The risk of Ebola transmission begins after symptoms appear. The health worker left the DRC symptom-free and met every travel requirement in force at the time. The Government of the DRC has put in place strengthened surveillance, entry and exit screening, and border health measures as part of the Ebola response, including at key points of entry and departure, airports in affected areas, and major transit hubs.

H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, spoke with the Minister of Health of the DRC, the Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and the European Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality, Hadja Lahbib. They reviewed the situation, strengthened coordination, and aligned the public health actions now under way.

“This case illustrates the importance of strong surveillance,” said H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC. “The health worker left the Democratic Republic of the Congo without symptoms, and the Government of the DRC has put in place strengthened surveillance, entry and exit screening, and border health measures as part of the Ebola response. Symptoms were identified after arrival in France, and diagnosis was made quickly through alert systems and international coordination.”​

“I want to thank this doctor, who served on the frontline in Ituri from 19 May to 19 June, standing with affected communities with courage and dedication. Health workers are carrying the heaviest burden in this outbreak. The right response today is vigilance, solidarity, and stronger support for the teams working to end Ebola at its source. Partners across the world must mobilize and contribute to ending this outbreak.”​

Africa CDC commends the speed of detection, diagnosis, and reporting by the French health authorities. The move from first symptoms to laboratory confirmation was made possible by rapid action and information sharing among national, regional, and international partners. Strong surveillance, fast reporting, and effective international cooperation protect communities.

Investigations are under way to establish the most likely period and circumstances of exposure and to support full contact tracing. Authorities in the DRC and France, with Africa CDC, WHO, ECDC, and other partners, are conducting risk assessments and monitoring identified contacts in line with established public health protocols.

The overall risk level of the outbreak remains unchanged. This imported case reinforces the need to maintain sustained vigilance, strengthen surveillance, rigorously apply infection prevention and control measures, and continue supporting the frontline health workers leading the response.

Africa CDC calls on partners and the international community to continue supporting the response and to reject measures unsupported by science, including unnecessary restrictions on travel and trade. Such measures slow the deployment of response teams and the delivery of essential supplies, and weaken the public health response.

Africa CDC reaffirms its full commitment alongside the Governments of the DRC and Uganda to control the outbreak, protect communities, and advance a coordinated continental and global response. Africa CDC will continue to monitor the situation closely and share further updates as verified information becomes available.​
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https://africacdc.org/news-item/afr...nce-and-reinforces-cross-border-surveillance/

 

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4:48 PM · Jun 24, 2026
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First case of Ebola on French territory

A Congolese humanitarian doctor who participated in the response to the Ebola epidemic in Ituri, on behalf of the NGO ALIMA, was diagnosed with the disease after arriving on French territory.

• Health

Published on June 25, 2026

The French Embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been informed that a Congolese humanitarian doctor who participated in the Ebola response in Ituri, on behalf of the NGO ALIMA, tested positive for the disease after arriving in France. This is the first confirmed case in France.​

The patient developed symptoms during his flight back to France, where he usually resides. Upon arrival, he presented himself at an emergency department where he was treated under strictly controlled conditions to prevent any risk of contamination.

He is currently receiving appropriate medical care and is being monitored in accordance with the procedures established by the French health authorities.

French and Congolese authorities are cooperating closely to identify and monitor people who may have been in contact with the patient, in accordance with current epidemiological surveillance protocols.

The French Embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo invites anyone with symptoms suggestive of the disease or who believes they have been exposed to a potential risk to strictly follow the recommendations and instructions issued by the competent health authorities.

The Embassy reiterates that the situation is being closely monitored by the relevant authorities. It urges everyone to remain vigilant, responsible, and calm, while relying exclusively on official sources to avoid the spread of rumors or unverified information.

Press contact :
Press and Communications Department
presse.kinshasa-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr



https://cd.diplomatie.gouv.fr/premier-cas-debola-sur-le-territoire-francais
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Ebola: Air France suspends flights between Paris and Kinshasa after the first case of infection was identified on the route

Flights are scheduled to resume on Saturday, June 27, according to the company, which specifies that "enhanced health checks are planned before boarding at Kinshasa airport."

Le Monde with AFP
Published today at 6:58 PM

Air France has temporarily suspended its flights between Paris and Kinshasa following the identification of a positive case of Ebola virus who had traveled on the route on Tuesday, the airline announced to Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Friday, June 26. Flights are scheduled to resume on Saturday, June 27 , the airline added.

The passenger who tested positive for the virus, the first confirmed case in France, is a Congolese doctor working for the NGO Alima and who usually resides in France. After a month-long mission to the epicenter of the epidemic, he left Ituri, a province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on June 19 and made a three-day stopover in the capital, Kinshasa.

On Monday evening, he took an Air France flight to Paris. Upon landing the following day at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, the Congolese man, who holds a residency permit, presented himself to the airport's emergency medical service. He is currently being treated in a Parisian hospital. The doctor had been suffering from headaches before boarding, and his condition worsened slightly during the flight, which lasts at least eight hours.

Five people placed in isolation

Five people, including a flight attendant, who had contact with the infected individual, have been placed in isolation. French authorities and the WHO have reassured the public regarding the risk of the virus spreading in Europe. According to the Pasteur Institute, Ebola virus transmission between humans can occur directly—through the blood or bodily fluids of infected individuals (urine, saliva, sweat, semen, etc.)—or indirectly—through objects or surfaces contaminated by these fluids. The risk of transmission via aerosols is very limited, according to the same source.

"In coordination with local authorities, enhanced health checks are planned before boarding at Kinshasa airport ," the French airline added. All travelers departing from Kinshasa must complete the electronic travel authorization form before any check-in process, according to the French Embassy in the DRC.

Air France emphasizes that "the health and safety of its customers and crew members are absolute imperatives ." The airline stated on Wednesday that it had "disinfected the aircraft that operated the flight" and provided health authorities with a list of the passengers who traveled on board that plane.

​https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/arti...wMjLvTUDds5d2veBjBFkBBdvnQij4vejLW-wxK4HR16Dn

 

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Air France resumes its Paris–Kinshasa flights after a confirmed case of Ebola

June 27, 2026

Kinshasa, June 27 (ACP) – Air France announced the resumption of its flights on the Paris-Kinshasa route, following a temporary suspension after a passenger who had traveled on this route tested positive for Ebola, the airline said Saturday. Operations are scheduled to resume this Saturday, June 27.

Air France specifies that " enhanced health checks are planned before boarding at Kinshasa airport ".

The passenger in question, a Congolese doctor working for an NGO and residing in France, was returning from a mission in the Ituri province, in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he had participated in activities related to the response to the epidemic.

Upon arrival at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle airport, he presented himself to the emergency medical service. He was immediately taken care of before being hospitalized in a Parisian hospital.

According to available information, he was already showing symptoms before boarding and his condition deteriorated slightly during the flight.

Five people, including a crew member, identified as having been in contact with the patient, have been placed in isolation as a precaution.

French health authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) believe, however, that the risk of spread remains limited.

According to specialists, the Ebola virus is mainly transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or with contaminated surfaces.

The risk of transmission in the air is, however, considered very low. Air France specifies that it has " disinfected the aircraft that operated the flight" and has transmitted the list of passengers to the health authorities in order to facilitate contact tracing.

The company emphasizes that " the health and safety of its customers and crew members are absolute imperatives " and affirms that it is working in close coordination with the relevant authorities to strengthen health control measures. ACP/GM.

https://acp.cd/nation/air-france-reprend-ses-vols-paris-kinshasa-apres-un-cas-confirme-debola/
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N'Djili Airport: Increased surveillance of passengers arriving from Ebola-affected areas

June 27, 2026

Kinshasa, June 27, 2026 (ACP).- Surveillance of passengers arriving from areas affected by the Ebola virus in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been strengthened at N'djili International Airport by health services, the National Border Hygiene Program (PNHF) announced on Saturday.

“ In concrete terms, we are establishing a preliminary list of people returning from areas affected by the epidemic, including Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. This list is then transmitted to the various services concerned, in particular to the Directorate General of Migration (DGM) ,” said Mireille Lembwadio, provincial coordinator for the National Border Hygiene Program (PNHF), the public service for monitoring epidemics at the country’s borders.

She indicated that, thanks to its information system, the Directorate General of Migration (DGM) is able, as in other situations requiring travel restrictions, to identify these people and prohibit them from traveling for the required period.

“ Upon their arrival in Kinshasa, travelers are clearly informed of this measure. It is not a matter of withholding information from them, but rather of raising their awareness beforehand. We explain to them that upon arrival in a non-epidemic zone, they will not be able to make international travel for twenty-one (21) days ,” Ms. Lembwadio stated, before adding that during this period, passengers will be subject to health monitoring.

“ If, at the end of this observation, they show no symptoms, they will be allowed to travel. On the other hand, if symptoms appear or if the disease is confirmed, the passengers will have to be taken care of in accordance with the health protocols in force, before observing, once recovered, a new monitoring period of twenty-one days ,” she added.

Furthermore, Ms. Lembwadio praised the multi-sectoral coordination involving, within the framework of this operation, the General Directorate of Migration (DGM), the Air Traffic Control Authority (RVA), the border police, the Armed Forces as well as all the services concerned.

She explained that these services have the same information thanks to an internal system for managing and sharing data.

" Thus, if a person subject to this restriction attempts to infiltrate despite everything and present themselves at immigration control, they are immediately identified and prevented from continuing their journey ," she indicated, specifying that the Ministry of Health cross-references this information through the traveler's health record encoding system.

According to the PNHF coordinator, this system allows, from the first stages of the process, to inform the traveler that he is not allowed to travel if he is returning from an epidemic zone.

“ Some people sometimes ask us if they are allowed to return to Ituri rather than stay in Kinshasa, particularly because of the cost of living. The answer is yes. However, if they return to an epidemic zone, the twenty-one-day period will start running again in full from their next return to an area not affected by the epidemic ,” she noted.

“ It is essential that this measure be understood insofar as it is restrictive but is above all a preventive approach. It is better to act proactively today rather than wait for an increase in the number of cases before reacting ,” insisted Ms. Lembwadio.

The rapid resumption of Air France flights, a reassuring element : "The rapid resumption of Air France flights, which had been suspended for two days, is a reassuring element. During the two days of suspension, the company took the time to better understand the health measures put in place, but also to evaluate them through the operations carried out by other partner companies ," indicated the provincial coordinator of the PNHF.

She stressed that following the assessment of the situation, it was concluded that the control mechanisms were indeed in place, hence the need to strengthen these measures and ensure their application with greater rigor.

“ The goal is not to complicate matters for travelers, but to ensure that all preventative measures are effectively respected by every passenger, without exception. Every traveler is now required to complete their health form and submit to all the scheduled checks before continuing their journey ,” concluded Ms. Lembwadio. ACP/Yoha/Life

https://acp.cd/nation/aeroport-de-n...passagers-issus-des-zonesaffectees-par-ebola/

 

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The first Ebola patient in France has "recovered" and "been discharged from the hospital," announces the Minister of Health.

This humanitarian doctor, who tested positive upon his return from the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been able to go home. He is the only case recorded in France since the start of the epidemic.

Article written byfranceinfo with AFP
France Télévisions
Published 04/07/2026 17:11

Good news on the health front. The first Ebola patient identified on French territory has "recovered," announced Health Minister Stéphanie Rist in a statement to AFP on Saturday, July 4.

This humanitarian doctor, who arrived in France on June 23 from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), currently facing a major outbreak of the virus , had boarded a flight from Kinshasa without symptoms, apart from headaches, but his condition deteriorated slightly during the journey. He was isolated upon arrival at the airport in Paris and then transported to the hospital for "isolation" .

He " was discharged today from the healthcare facility where he was being treated ," the Health Minister added. "Having remained largely asymptomatic ," he received " medical care and close monitoring " at Bichat Hospital in Paris. " After two negative PCR tests, the patient has now recovered" and "has been able to return home safely ," she specified. Five people who had been in contact with this patient during the flight had been identified and placed in home isolation for a period of 21 days.

This patient was the first identified case outside the African continent for this epidemic, which is also affecting Uganda, and the first case ever diagnosed of Ebola in France. In the DRC, the Ebola epidemic, which has claimed at least 452 lives according to the latest figures on Friday, continues to spread with a recently confirmed case in Kisangani, the major city in the northeast located nearly 600 km from the epicenter of the crisis.

https://www.franceinfo.fr/sante/mal...annonce-la-ministre-de-la-sante_8093969.html​

 

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Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, Democratic Republic of the Congo & Uganda

17 July 2026
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https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON613