Two people in Milan, northern Italy, are suspected of having contracted Ebola, according to a Monday report by the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
The pair — a man and a woman from Como — had recently returned from Uganda, where they reportedly spent three months working as aid workers.
According to the report, both developed symptoms associated with Ebola, including high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea. The man reportedly suffered intestinal complications, while the woman experienced neurological symptoms.
Ebola is caused by viruses from the Orthoebolavirus genus. The three strains most commonly linked to major human outbreaks are the Ebola virus (Zaire), Sudan virus, and Bundibugyo virus.
The suspected cases emerge amid growing concerns over Ebola outbreaks in parts of Africa, where health officials continue to monitor the risk of cross-border transmission. Authorities have warned that the outbreak is spreading in several regions, with neighboring countries also reporting concerns.
On May 17, the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a global health emergency after suspected infections and deaths increased in eastern Congo and confirmed cases appeared outside the original outbreak area.
The WHO has stated that although the risk of global spread remains low, the situation is under close observation due to rising case numbers, infections among healthcare workers, and outbreaks in urban centers.
Earlier Monday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the Ebola outbreak in Congo as “extremely serious and difficult” to contain, warning that the virus is spreading faster than response efforts.
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 additional countries — including Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Zambia — are also considered at risk of potential Ebola outbreaks.
