A British national has tested positive for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the UK authorities has confirmed.
According to the BBC, the British man examined positive for the virus whereas in the DRC. Reuters subsequently reported that he could be medically evacuated to the UK for specialist therapy. However, the precise time of the evacuation was not instantly identified.
This marks the primary confirmed case of a British national contracting the virus throughout the ongoing outbreak in the DRC, which has claimed greater than 5,000 lives.
Ebola is a viral illness that may trigger extreme sickness and spreads primarily via direct contact with the blood or different bodily fluids of an contaminated individual.
Symptoms embrace fever, headache, vomiting, muscle ache, weak spot, and diarrhoea.
“The UK has well-established procedures for dealing with cases like this, and those processes have been activated,” a UK authorities spokesperson was quoted as saying.
“Further information will be shared in due course as appropriate. The risk to the UK public from Ebola remains low.”
Ebola outbreak
The present outbreak is attributable to the Bundibugyo virus, a species of Ebola virus, and was first declared in DRC in May 2026.
According to the latest figures from the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the outbreak had recorded 10,563 confirmed circumstances and 5,130 deaths throughout 5 international locations as of 1 November 2026.
The DRC accounts for nearly all of the circumstances, with 10,532 confirmed circumstances and 5,126 deaths. The outbreak has affected eight provinces in the nation.
Kenya has recorded 9 confirmed circumstances and two deaths, whereas Uganda has recorded 20 confirmed circumstances and two deaths, alongside one possible case and one possible dying.
Nigeria confirmed its first case on 20 October after a traveller with a historical past of journey to Uganda examined positive for the virus. The affected person was subsequently medically evacuated to Switzerland for therapy.
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According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), 62 contacts linked to the Nigerian case had been recognized and had been below follow-up as of 29 October.
Symptoms and transmission
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has explained that Ebola survivors could transmit the virus via sexual activity if it persists in their semen after restoration.
However, survivors who’ve met the factors for discharge from therapy will not be anticipated to transmit the virus via sweat or saliva, because the virus is cleared from their blood.
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