France Discharges First Ebola Patient After Full Recovery

France’s first confirmed Ebola case, a humanitarian doctor from the Democratic Republic of Congo, was diagnosed on 23 June after arriving at Paris airport. He was immediately isolated and treated in a specialized hospital in the capital. Following intensive care, including antiviral therapy and strict infection‑control measures, the patient tested negative twice by PCR and was declared cured. On 4 July, Health Minister Stéphanie Rist announced his discharge and safe return home. No secondary infections among healthcare workers were reported, and the five identified contacts from the flight were placed under home isolation for 21 days. The case involved the rare Bundibugyo strain, against which no specific vaccine or treatment exists, and health authorities emphasized that the risk of wider transmission remains low. This marks the first Ebola diagnosis outside Africa and highlights the effectiveness of France’s surveillance, isolation and response protocols.