The French Ministry of Health, Families, Autonomy and Persons with Disabilities on Wednesday confirmed the identification of the first positive case of Ebola virus disease in the country. The patient, who had returned from a humanitarian mission in one of the areas where the virus is circulating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was immediately admitted to a specialised facility and is in a stable condition.
France has specialised capabilities for managing highly transmissible infectious diseases. Patients are treated in a designated healthcare facility, following strict biosafety protocols (negative-pressure rooms, dedicated equipment and protocols). Health authorities are fully mobilised and the situation is being continuously monitored.
All precautionary measures, including the patient’s isolation, were taken upon his arrival in the country, with transfer to hospital under secure conditions to prevent any risk of contamination. A thorough epidemiological investigation is under way to identify individuals who may have been in contact with the patient. These individuals will be contacted without delay by the regional health agency, will undergo 21 days of home isolation and will be closely monitored during this period.
Following the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 17 May in response to the active circulation of the Ebola virus in Ituri Province, DRC, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has assessed the risk of infection as low for European residents and travellers to areas of active transmission, and very low for the general European population.
A dedicated monitoring system is in place for the return of French aid workers to national territory.
What is the Ebola virus?
Ebola virus disease is a serious and often fatal illness. The virus is transmitted to humans from wild animals and then from person to person through direct contact with:
• Bodily fluids (blood, saliva, urine, semen, breast milk, sweat, faeces and vomit from infected persons, whether alive or deceased);
• The bodies of people who have died from Ebola virus disease;
• Objects contaminated by the bodily fluids of infected patients (e.g. needles);
• Meat from wild animals.
The disease is characterised by high fever and often fatal haemorrhaging. The incubation period, that is, the time between contact with the virus and the appearance of the first symptoms, varies from 2 to 21 days. As long as they do not show symptoms, infected individuals are not contagious. Currently, there is no specific treatment for Ebola virus disease; treatment focuses on managing symptoms, particularly through rehydration.
What are the health recommendations?
Given the absence of the virus circulating in mainland France, the precautionary health recommendations apply mainly to French territories bordering the Indian Ocean, and to travellers going to or returning from the DRC provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu, as well as Uganda.
1/ For French nationals currently in the country, it is recommended that they avoid areas experiencing outbreaks of the epidemic and, if this is impossible, that they:
• Follow basic hygiene rules, including regular handwashing;
• Avoid close contact with people who have a fever. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with blood or bodily fluids;
• Avoid all contact with wild animals, whether alive or dead;
• Do not consume or handle bushmeat.
2/ For travellers going to areas where the virus is circulating, it is recommended that those who can postpone their trip do so, especially the most vulnerable (older people, people with disabilities, pregnant women or those with comorbidities).
If travel cannot be postponed, it is recommended that travellers follow the above health guidance and:
• Regularly consult information from the embassy or the “Travel Advice” section of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs;
• Register free of charge on the Ariane platform in order to receive real-time information and alerts from the French authorities.
3/ For travellers returning to France from an area with active virus transmission, the following is required:
• Monitor your temperature every day for 21 days;
• If you develop a fever of 38°C or higher, and up to 21 days after returning to France, call 15 immediately and await instructions. Do not visit your GP or a hospital emergency department.
Hans Kluge, Regional Director at the WHO Regional Office for Europe, emphasised that confirmation of an Ebola case in France may understandably attract attention, but the risk to the wider public remains low.
He said that over the past 50 years, only a limited number of Ebola cases have been detected outside Africa.
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 high-quality care for people with Ebola virus disease. This work takes place in high-security facilities designed to protect laboratory staff and the public.
Hans Kluge, Regional Director at the WHO Regional Office for Europe
“Well-developed and accessible health services, effective surveillance and public health measures are critical to identify, isolate and manage cases safely.”
25.06.2026.
