A patient has been admitted to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow and is being tested for the Ebola virus, according to the Press Association. The individual was taken to the hospital in the early hours of Tuesday, and tests are currently underway to determine whether they have contracted the disease.
Public Health Scotland Statement on Ebola Risk
A spokesperson for Public Health Scotland (PHS) stated that there are “no confirmed cases of Ebola” in Scotland at present. However, the agency is working closely with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to assess how travellers may enter the UK from affected countries. The spokesperson emphasised that “the risk from people arriving in the UK from affected areas is low” and that the NHS has safe procedures in place for detecting and managing any such cases.
PHS and NHS boards across Scotland have established protocols for assessing and testing travellers arriving from Ebola-affected areas. Where necessary, contact tracing will be conducted, and contacts may undergo clinical assessment and precautionary testing.
Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo
The current Ebola outbreak involves the bundibugyo strain, with over 1,300 confirmed cases, the majority in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Approximately 377 people have died, including two in neighbouring Uganda. If the Glasgow case is confirmed, it would be the first in the UK since the World Health Organization declared the DRC outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
UK Government Support for Ebola Response
The UK has committed up to £21 million to support the local response to Ebola in the DRC, aiming to protect frontline workers and vulnerable communities. This article was amended on 1 July 2026 to reflect updated case numbers: an earlier version reported nearly 700 cases and 138 deaths, but recent data shows over 1,300 confirmed cases and approximately 377 deaths.
