Brazilian authorities are monitoring two patients suspected of Ebola virus infection. Both arrived from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, countries currently experiencing the latest outbreak.
Foreign news agencies reported on 31 May 2026 that Brazil's public health agencies are closely observing two patients who may be infected with Ebola virus. They were found in the country's two largest cities, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
The São Paulo state government revealed that the first patient is a 37-year-old man who traveled from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is undergoing a severe outbreak. This patient is showing symptoms such as fever.
Meanwhile, Rio de Janeiro state has implemented public health safety measures after a Belgian man arriving from Uganda—another country with an outbreak—exhibited "virus-like symptoms, including cough, chills, and diarrhea."
Laboratory results for both patients are expected within the next week. If positive, these cases would be the first Ebola infections recorded outside Africa since the outbreak began in the Democratic Republic of Congo in late April.
Currently, over 1,000 suspected Ebola cases are reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with at least 246 deaths. Uganda has confirmed nine cases and one death so far.
The ongoing outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which no approved vaccine exists. This strain has a fatality rate of about one in three.
Although the two patients in Brazil remain under Ebola surveillance, they were previously diagnosed with other illnesses. The man from the Democratic Republic of Congo in São Paulo tested positive for meningitis and is in critical condition, while the Belgian patient in Rio de Janeiro tested positive for malaria.
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Source:bbc