British healthcare worker tests positive for Ebola in DR Congo

Summarised from 7 outlets · Updated 4 Nov, 16:47 · Archive

A British healthcare worker in the Democratic Republic of Congo has tested positive for Ebola. The UK Foreign Office has confirmed the case, stating that the risk to the UK public from Ebola remains low. The patient is in stable condition and is being medically evacuated to Britain.

According to an official document seen by Reuters, the British citizen is expected to arrive in the UK on Wednesday or Thursday. They will be transferred by specialist ambulance to a high-consequence infectious disease unit for treatment. The patient's identity has not been disclosed.

The healthcare worker was sent to the DRC by a humanitarian organisation to support the response to the outbreak. This is the first case involving a British national linked to the current outbreak, although several other people from elsewhere in Europe have been infected. Switzerland evacuated an Ebola patient from Nigeria in October, and France reported its first confirmed case in June, also a doctor returning from a humanitarian mission in the DRC.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has been battling an Ebola outbreak caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain since May. The outbreak has spread across eight provinces and into neighbouring Kenya. More than 10,500 confirmed cases and approximately 5,100 deaths have been reported across four African countries. The fatality rate for the Bundibugyo strain is around 49 per cent.

British authorities do not expect the case to have a serious public health impact in Britain and anticipate no disruption to international travel or trade. The National Health Service has procedures in place to manage suspected and confirmed infections. There is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain.

Ebola symptoms can appear between two and 21 days after infection and include flu-like symptoms such as high temperature, extreme tiredness and headache. The disease is spread through direct contact with an infected person's body fluids. The World Health Organisation has warned that the DRC outbreak is on course to surpass West Africa's 2014-2016 epidemic, which killed more than 11,000 people.

How it is being reported

• UK national tests positive for Ebola virus in DR CongoA British government spokesperson says the risk to the UK public from Ebola remains low.BBC News · 4 Nov, 17:09
• British healthcare worker with Ebola to be evacuated from DRC to UK, document showsPatient, who is in stable condition, is expected to arrive in Britain on Wednesday or Thursday A British healthcare worker infected with Ebola is being medically evacuated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Britain for specialist treatment, according to an official document seen by Reuters. The patient is in a stable condition and is expected to arrive in Britain on Wednesday or Thursday before being transferred to a specialist ambulance to a high-consequence infectious disease unit, the document showed. Continue reading...The Guardian · 4 Nov, 16:32
• British citizen tests positive for Ebola in Democratic Republic of CongoIt is the first case in the current outbreak that involves a British nationalIndependent World · 4 Nov, 16:29
• British citizen tests positive for deadly Ebola virus in DR CongoHealth workers and humanitarian responders on the front lines of the Ebola response in DR Congo (Picture: REUTERS) A British citizen working in the Democratic Republic of Congo has tested positive for the deadly Ebola virus. The unidentified healthcare worker will be flown back to the UK for…Metro · 4 Nov, 16:27
• Brit tests positive for Ebola in DRC and will be treated in UK after evacuationA British citizen has tested positive for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo - this is a breaking storyThe Mirror · 4 Nov, 16:18
• British citizen tests positive for Ebola in DR Congo as outbreak rages in AfricaA British citizen has tested positive for Ebola, the Foreign Office has confirmed. The individual caught the disease while in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is battling the largest-ever outbreak of the deadly contagion. The Foreign Office has insisted that the risk to the UK from Ebola remains low. In the Congo, more than 10,500 confirmed cases and 5,100 deaths have been reported. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say MORE TO FOLLOW Our Standards: The GB News Editorial CharterGB News · 4 Nov, 16:13
• British healthcare worker tests positive for Ebola in DR Congo 'and will be treated in UK'A British healthcare worker in the Democratic Republic of Congo has tested positive for Ebola and will reportedly be treated in the UK.Sky News · 4 Nov, 02:11

In this story: British healthcare worker · Democratic Republic of Congo · United Kingdom · Kenya · Switzerland · France · Foreign Office · World Health Organisation

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log