A recent returnee to Austria from Uganda has been admitted to a hospital due to suspected Ebola virus symptoms. Despite an initial negative test result, the individual is still under observation, and local authorities have issued a health alert pending further testing.
The patient is currently receiving medical care in a hospital in the Urfahr-Umgebung district of Austria. According to a statement from the Provincial Health Directorate, the individual, who returned from Uganda, a country grappling with an Ebola outbreak, was isolated and treated following medical protocols.
Although the first blood sample did not indicate Ebola infection, confirmation is awaited from a second sample. Meanwhile, the person remains isolated in the hospital for monitoring, as stated by the health authorities.
Efforts are underway to trace individuals who may have had contact with the affected person through contact tracing. The patient is scheduled to be transferred to a specialized infectious disease facility in Vienna for continued quarantine.
The Ebola outbreak was officially declared in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo on May 15, 2026, with over 900 suspected cases and at least 223 deaths reported. In Uganda, seven cases have been confirmed. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is collaborating with the aviation sector to enhance passenger safety and support the affected regions.
ECDC is working closely with partners to strengthen the EU Health Task Force’s presence in the DRC and Uganda, emphasizing the importance of exit screening to identify symptomatic travelers. This collaboration aims to update risk assessments and recommendations for the European Union and European Economic Area promptly.