A British humanitarian worker is being monitored in isolation at a London hospital after a potential exposure to Ebola while supporting the outbreak response in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The individual, who remains well and shows no symptoms, was evacuated on a flight chartered solely for their transfer as a precautionary measure, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.
Infectious disease specialists are now assessing the worker at an unnamed London hospital, where they will be required to isolate throughout the entire potential incubation period for Ebola, which ranges from two to 21 days. The UKHSA emphasised there are no confirmed cases of Ebola in the UK and the risk to the general public remains low.
“UK humanitarian worker flown to London hospital in isolation after potential Ebola exposure in DR Congo.”
Richard Pebody, director of epidemic and emerging infections at UKHSA, said: “The risk to the general public remains low. This individual has been transferred out of an abundance of caution, and we’re pleased they remain well.”
The worker had been in the Democratic Republic of Congo with a humanitarian organisation supporting the response to an Ebola outbreak declared in May 2026. The World Health Organisation reported 2,423 confirmed cases of Bundibugyo virus disease, 967 confirmed deaths and 252 suspected cases as of Sunday. At least 930 people have died in the DRC alone in what is described as the fastest growing Ebola epidemic on record.
Outside the DRC, 20 cases have been identified in Uganda and one in France, with two deaths in Uganda. To date, 410 patients have recovered, including 390 in DRC, 18 in Uganda, one in France and one in Germany.
The Bundibugyo variation of Ebola currently circulating has no vaccine or specific treatment, though the University of Oxford is set to begin human trials for a new jab that could be ready within weeks. The WHO has warned that controlling the outbreak will be challenging due to an ongoing humanitarian crisis in the DRC, compounded by insecurity, high population movements and the remote, densely populated area.
Ebola symptoms can start suddenly with fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, progressing to vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, rash and impaired kidney and liver function. Bleeding is less frequent but can occur later. The last Ebola case in the UK was in 2015, linked to the West Africa outbreak. As the worker remains symptom-free, the coming days will be critical in determining whether exposure has led to infection.
