The case could mark the first in Europe during the current outbreak.

12:33, Thu, May 28, 2026 Updated: 13:00, Thu, May 28, 2026

Health Officials Race To Contain Deadly Ebola Outbreak In Congo

An Ebola warning has been issued (Image: Getty)

A suspected Ebola case has sparked concern in Austria amid fears the deadly disease may have already spread to Europe. Health officials in Austria said the patient became ill shortly after returning from Uganda, where they are believed to have contracted the newly identified Bundibugyo strain.

It comes as the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo is hampering the Ebola outbreak response. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Ituri province in the east of the country was at the centre of a "catastrophic collision of disease and conflict". In a statement posted on X, Tedros said the WHO could not "build community trust or isolate the sick while bombs are falling".

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Officials in Austria have begun contact tracing in an effort to contain any possible spread of the virus, as suspected cases of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola continue to rise in Uganda following exposure among health workers treating patients from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The health officials said in a statement: "Yesterday, a person from the Urfahr-Umgebung district was admitted to the hospital for inpatient evaluation due to symptoms of illness.

"Since the person returned from Uganda on Monday – a country currently affected by the ongoing Ebola outbreak – they were isolated and treated in accordance with medical guidelines."

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