Ebola alert in Italy's Lombardy after two aid workers return from Uganda

Italian health authorities have activated an Ebola health alert in the Lombardy region following the illness of two humanitarian workers who recently returned from Uganda. Officials stress that an Ebola diagnosis has not yet been confirmed.

Italian health authorities in the Lombardy region have launched an Ebola health alert after two humanitarian aid workers fell ill following their return from Uganda. The precautionary measures were activated as a standard protocol while laboratory tests are conducted to determine the cause of the illness.

Officials have been careful to emphasise that no confirmed Ebola diagnosis has been established at this stage. The two individuals are being monitored and treated in isolation as medical teams work to identify the pathogen responsible for their symptoms.

Uganda has experienced outbreaks of Ebola in recent years, with the Sudan strain of the virus causing a significant outbreak in 2022. Aid workers and health personnel operating in affected regions are considered an at-risk group due to their proximity to potentially infected populations.

Lombardy's health authorities are coordinating with Italy's national health system and international bodies to manage the situation. Contact tracing efforts are reportedly underway to identify anyone who may have been in close contact with the two individuals since their return to Italy.

Health experts note that Ebola, while highly dangerous, is not airborne and requires direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person to spread. Authorities have urged the public to remain calm while investigations continue.