France has confirmed its first Ebola case linked to the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
French officials said a doctor who had traveled to the country tested positive for the pathogen.
The doctor recently returned from the DRC and has been transferred to a specialist hospital.
“The confirmation of an Ebola case in France linked to response work in the DRC is a reminder that strong surveillance, rapid reporting, and international cooperation save lives. The health worker left the DRC without symptoms, met all travel requirements, and was diagnosed quickly after symptoms appeared. Public health systems worked as they should,” the Africa CDC wrote.
“Africa CDC commends the rapid response of authorities in France and the DRC and calls on partners to continue supporting frontline teams, strengthening surveillance, and avoiding measures not based on science, including unnecessary travel and trade restrictions. Stopping Ebola at its source remains the best way to protect communities everywhere,” it continued.
The confirmation of an Ebola case in France linked to response work in the DRC is a reminder that strong surveillance, rapid reporting, and international cooperation save lives.
The health worker left the DRC without symptoms, met all travel requirements, and was diagnosed… pic.twitter.com/E9iFQ3b4Mc
— Africa CDC (@AfricaCDC) June 25, 2026
More from The New York Times:
French health workers were racing to trace anyone who may have come in contact with the doctor. Contacts will have to be isolated for 21 days and will be closely monitored, the ministry said.
Congo is at the center of an outbreak in central Africa that was declared on May 15, with most cases in the northeastern Ituri Province. At least 260 people have died, and there have been more than 1,000 confirmed cases in the country, according to the World Health Organization.
The doctor works for the Alliance for International Medical Action, an aid organization known as ALIMA that has been part of the emergency response to the outbreak, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the W.H.O., said in a news conference. The nonprofit has helped in setting up treatment centers, he said.
“This case is a reminder of the risks faced by frontline responders,” Dr. Tedros said, adding that 82 health care workers have become ill during the outbreak.
Meanwhile, the DRC has tightened travel restrictions for anyone returning from an Ebola-impacted area.
“The confirmation of an #Ebola case in France can understandably attract attention, but the risk to the wider public remains low. Over the past 50 years, only a limited number of Ebola cases have been detected outside Africa. Well-developed and accessible health services, effective surveillance and public health measures are critical to identify, isolate and manage cases safely,” WHO Regional Director Hans Kluge said.
“France has the capacity to test for and safely manage Ebola virus disease, including the Bundibugyo virus involved in the current outbreak. Specialised laboratories can quickly and accurately confirm cases and analyse the virus when needed, while specialised isolation units are safe places to provide quality care to people with Ebola virus disease. This work takes place in high-security facilities designed to protect laboratory staff and the public,” he continued.
The confirmation of an #Ebola case in France can understandably attract attention, but the risk to the wider public remains low.
Over the past 50 years, only a limited number of Ebola cases have been detected outside Africa. Well-developed and accessible health services,… pic.twitter.com/KbiFIAa6zE
— Hans Kluge (@hans_kluge) June 24, 2026
Reuters shared further:
The Democratic Republic of Congo has imposed a 21-day quarantine for anyone returning from Ebola-affected areas before they can travel abroad, tightening controls after France confirmed its first imported case linked to the outbreak.
ADVERTISEMENTA June 24 decree signed by health minister Samuel-Roger Kamba requires anyone identified as a contact of a confirmed or suspected Ebola case to undergo 21 days of active health monitoring from their last exposure. During that period, all travel, domestic or international, is banned unless expressly authorized by health authorities.
The same monitoring rules apply to health workers, laboratory staff and response teams returning from affected areas, who must also obtain prior approval before travelling internationally.
More broadly, anyone who has stayed in an Ebola-affected province may only travel abroad after spending at least 21 days outside the area.
All outbound international passengers are now required to complete a health declaration form issued by border health authorities, with airlines responsible for verifying compliance as an additional screening measure.
