UK national tests positive for Ebola virus in DR Congo
A British government spokesperson says the risk to the UK public from Ebola remains low.
A British national currently residing in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has recently tested positive for the Ebola virus, according to a confirmation from the UK government. The Foreign Office has emphasized that the risk of spreading the virus to the public remains low, outlining the well-established procedures the UK has in place to manage such cases.
The BBC News reports that the patient is a healthcare worker, and it is the first confirmed instance of a UK national falling ill from Ebola during the latest outbreak in DR Congo, which has claimed over 5,000 lives. It remains unclear if the infected individual will be repatriated to the UK for treatment, but previous UK nationals exposed to the virus have been flown back for medical care.
The government spokesperson highlighted that the UK is prepared to handle such incidents, with protocols already activated. There has only been a handful of Ebola cases reported in the UK since the virus's outbreak in DR Congo began in May, with four confirmed instances in total.
Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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