France has confirmed the first imported case of Ebola in Europe. A doctor who had been on a humanitarian mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo tested positive after returning to France.
The patient was immediately admitted to a specialized facility and is in stable condition, the French Ministry of Health said. The transfer was conducted under secure conditions to prevent contamination, and an epidemiological investigation is underway to identify contacts. Those exposed will undergo 21 days of home isolation and close monitoring.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) assessed the risk of sustained transmission within the EU/EEA as “very low,” provided early detection, isolation, and treatment measures remain effective. The agency urged member states to maintain preparedness and issued a checklist to guide national authorities.
French authorities emphasized that the country has specialized capabilities for managing highly transmissible diseases, with healthcare facilities subject to strict biosafety protocols.