UK resident being assessed in London hospital over ‘potential exposure to Ebola’ | UK | News

A humanitarian worker was assessed at a London hospital “following possible healthcare-related exposure to Ebola,” health officials said. According to the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA), the UK citizen was caring for Ebola patients in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The case comes as the country battles one of the fastest-growing Ebola outbreaks on record since May, raising serious concerns among health authorities about the spread of the deadly virus. However, there are currently no confirmed cases of Ebola in the UK.

The evacuation was arranged “following potential healthcare-related Ebola exposure”, UKHSA said.

He added: “The individual is currently asymptomatic and is in a stable condition, but as a precautionary measure they were evacuated on a flight chartered for evacuation only.

“He is currently being assessed and monitored in isolation by infectious disease specialists at a hospital in London. The incubation period for Ebola varies between 2 and 21 days and the individual will be closely monitored and will need to isolate for this period.”

Richard Pebody, UKHSA Director of Epidemics and Emerging Infections, said: “The risk to the public remains low. This individual was transferred in an abundance of caution and we are pleased they are doing well.”

The epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to worsen, with the number of confirmed Ebola cases rising to 2,423, including 967 deaths, according to government data released on Monday.

The outbreak is triggered by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, which is a less common strain of Ebola and does not currently have an approved vaccine or specific treatment.

Humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) warned that the virus was spreading faster than efforts to contain it, highlighting the increasing challenges faced by health authorities trying to control the epidemic.