The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the global public health risk from the ongoing Ebola outbreak centred in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains low, despite France confirming its first Ebola case linked to the current outbreak.
France announced on Wednesday (June 24) that a doctor who had recently returned from the DRC had tested positive for Ebola, marking the first case detected outside the African continent during the current outbreak.
The patient, who had been working with the humanitarian organization Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA), travelled on a commercial flight from Kinshasa to Paris. French health authorities said the doctor experienced only mild symptoms, including headaches, before boarding the flight, with the condition slightly worsening during the journey.
Upon arrival in Paris, the patient was immediately isolated and admitted for treatment even before laboratory confirmation of the infection. Officials stated that the patient is in stable condition and has a very low viral load.
French health authorities have also begun contact tracing to identify and monitor individuals who may have been exposed.
Addressing the development, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged countries and the public not to overreact, emphasizing that there is “no need for panic” and that the risk of wider international spread remains low.
However, he noted that the case serves as an important reminder of the dangers faced by frontline healthcare workers responding to the outbreak.
According to the WHO, nearly 80 healthcare workers have been infected during the current outbreak, highlighting the need for stronger infection prevention and control measures.
The WHO has advised countries supporting the international response to ensure that deployed personnel receive adequate training, protective measures, and evacuation arrangements where necessary.
The Democratic Republic of Congo declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on May 15 after several unexplained deaths were reported in the eastern province of Ituri.
According to the latest official figures, more than 1,000 Ebola cases have been confirmed, including 267 deaths, representing a fatality rate of approximately 25 percent.
The WHO currently assesses the public health risk as very high within the Democratic Republic of Congo, high for Uganda and neighbouring countries, and low for the rest of the world.
Dr. Tedros also noted that while Africa has experienced thousands of Ebola cases over the past five decades, fewer than 30 cases have been detected outside the continent during that period, underscoring the rarity of international transmission.
Source: AFP
