WHO chief says global Ebola risk remains low

The World Health Organization chief stated that the global threat of a deadly Ebola outbreak remains low, following the confirmation of a case in France.

France announced on Wednesday that a doctor who had returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) was the first confirmed Ebola case on its territory. The country is currently battling a major outbreak.

This case marks the first instance of the hemorrhagic fever being identified outside Africa during the current outbreak, which has also affected Uganda.

WHO Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cautioned against an “over‑reaction” to the French case, describing it as the first detection outside Africa.

He stressed that “there is no need for panic” and reaffirmed that “the risk to the rest of the world is low.”

However, he noted that the case serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by frontline responders.

“Almost 80 health workers have been infected, highlighting the risks they face and the importance of strengthening infection prevention and control,” he said.

The confirmed case involved a doctor who had been working with the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA), according to the NGO.

The patient “boarded a commercial flight from Kinshasa and was almost asymptomatic—except for headaches,” the French health ministry reported.

During the flight, the patient’s condition “slightly deteriorated,” after which they were immediately isolated and taken into care upon landing in Paris, even before the disease was officially identified, the ministry added.

The patient was in a “stable condition” and their viral load was “very low,” the ministry said.

Efforts are underway to identify potential contacts.

The WHO advised countries to “support the safe deployment of personnel responding to this outbreak,” Tedros said.

“This includes ensuring that organisations deploying staff provide clear information on risks, how to reduce and manage the risks of exposure, and that countries are prepared to facilitate evacuation if needed,” he added.

The 17th Ebola outbreak in the DRC was declared on May 15 after several unexplained deaths in the mineral‑rich but volatile eastern Ituri province, which is plagued by armed groups.

According to the latest official figures, more than 1,000 cases have been recorded, including 267 deaths, yielding a fatality rate of around 25 percent.

WHO assesses the public health risk level as “very high” for the DRC, “high” for Uganda and other countries bordering the DRC, and “low” for the rest of the world.

Tedros urged that the case in France be put into perspective and cautioned against an “over‑reaction.”

He noted that while thousands of Ebola cases have been detected in Africa over the past half century, “in the past 50 years, the number of cases that were detected outside Africa is less than 30.”