UK national tests positive for Ebola virus in DR Congo

A British national in the Democratic Republic of Congo has tested positive for Ebola, the UK government confirmed. The UK has activated its procedures for handling cases and says the risk to the public remains low; the Foreign Office has not said whether the patient will be brought back, although Reuters reported the person is a healthcare worker who would be transferred to the UK. The outbreak, which began in May, has exceeded 10,000 confirmed cases and caused more than 5,000 deaths, with a 48.6% fatality rate reported at the end of last month. It is driven by the Bundibugyo variant, for which no vaccine is approved, and cases have also been confirmed in Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda.