France has confirmed its first case of Ebola – a doctor who had returned from a humanitarian mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The doctor was “immediately admitted to a specialised facility” and is in a stable condition, the French health ministry said on Wednesday.
DR Congo announced an Ebola outbreak last month, but experts believe the virus had been circulating for weeks previously.
More than 260 people are confirmed to have died from the virus in the central African country, while 1,000 people have been infected.
In its statement on Wednesday, France’s health ministry stressed that the risk to the population was “very low”.
It added that authorities were working to trace people who may have been in contact with the doctor.
Healthcare workers are especially at risk from Ebola, which is spread through bodily fluids.
The current Ebola outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of the virus, for which there is currently no vaccine.
France has set up a “dedicated monitoring system” for aid workers returning from DR Congo, the health ministry said.
This is a breaking news story – more to follow
