France's first confirmed Ebola patient, a physician, has recovered and been discharged from hospital, Health Minister Stéphanie Rist announced on Saturday, July 4. The doctor, who tested positive after returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo, left the medical establishment and returned home following treatment.
Details of the case
The doctor arrived in France on an Air France flight on June 23 from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where authorities are battling a significant Ebola outbreak. He was almost asymptomatic, experiencing only headaches. As a precaution, five other passengers on the same flight were identified as potential contacts and placed in isolation while monitoring continued.
First detection on French soil
This case marked the first time Ebola had been detected in France, although during the 2014 West Africa outbreak, patients were treated in the country after being diagnosed elsewhere. Officials confirmed the doctor's recovery without complications.
Ongoing outbreak in DRC
The recovery comes as the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to report new cases. According to the latest government figures released on July 2, the outbreak declared on May 15 has resulted in at least 438 deaths among 1,406 confirmed infections. Public health authorities have maintained surveillance and contact tracing measures amid concerns about further spread.
