France: first Ebola case 'recovered' and 'discharged from hospital'

Health Minister Stéphanie Rist has announced that France’s first diagnosed Ebola patient has recovered and been discharged from hospital. 'Recovered' and 'discharged from hospital': relief over the first case of Ebola diagnosed on French soil. According to the health minister, 'after two negative PCR tests, the patient has now recovered and has been able to return home safely'. The patient, now out of danger, is a humanitarian doctor. He arrived in France on 23 June on a flight from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He boarded the plane with a slight headache, but his condition deteriorated during the journey. The patient was placed in isolation as soon as he arrived on French territory. Five possible contacts have also remained at home in isolation for a period of 21 days. Stéphanie Rist said the carrier of the virus was 'only mildly symptomatic' and that he had received medical care and been monitored closely, in full compliance with health protocols. The Ebola virus can cause haemorrhagic fevers that are very often fatal. Ebola is not highly contagious. The outbreak has nevertheless claimed at least 452 lives in the DRC, according to the latest figures as of 3 July. The virus continues to spread and a case was recently confirmed in Kisangani, the major city located 600 km from the epicentre of the crisis.