France confirms first Ebola case linked to DR Congo outbreak

French health authorities have confirmed the country's first case of Ebola, involving a doctor who recently returned from a humanitarian mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where an outbreak of the virus is ongoing.

In a statement issued on June 24, France's Health Ministry said the physician was "immediately admitted to a specialised facility" upon diagnosis and is currently in stable condition, BBC reports.

The case is linked to the Ebola outbreak declared by the Democratic Republic of Congo last month. However, health experts believe the virus had been circulating in the country for several weeks before the outbreak was officially announced.

According to available data, more than 260 people have died from Ebola in the central African nation, while over 1,000 infections have been recorded.

French authorities sought to reassure the public following confirmation of the case, emphasizing that the risk to the general population remains limited.

“The risk to the population is very low,” the Health Ministry said, adding that contact-tracing efforts are underway to identify and monitor individuals who may have been exposed to the infected doctor.

Healthcare workers remain among the groups most vulnerable to infection, as Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals.

The current outbreak has been attributed to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which no approved vaccine currently exists.

The Health Ministry also announced that France has established a “dedicated monitoring system” for humanitarian and aid workers returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo in an effort to strengthen surveillance and prevent further transmission.

Health officials continue to closely monitor the situation as containment efforts remain underway in both France and the DRC.

By Vafa Guliyeva