Belgian Hospitals Prepare for Potential Ebola Cases

Belgian hospitals have activated enhanced preparedness measures in response to a major Ebola outbreak in Central Africa caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus variant, which has already claimed over 230 lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda. While no confirmed cases have been detected in Belgium, a false alarm in Roeselare on May 25 prompted health authorities to reissue emergency protocols to all medical facilities nationwide.

A Rare and Dangerous Threat

The Bundibugyo variant — first identified in Uganda in 2007 — is one of the deadliest strains of Ebola, with a mortality rate estimated at 40 to 50 percent. Unlike the more common Zaire strain, there is no licensed vaccine or specific antiviral treatment available for this variant. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17, warning that the true scale of the epidemic may be far larger than current figures suggest. Over 1,000 suspected infections and 233 confirmed deaths have been reported across Ituri Province in the DRC and the Ugandan capital, Kampala.

False Alarm Triggers Nationwide Response

On Monday, May 25, a woman who had recently traveled from the affected region in Africa presented with symptoms at the Alfa GP clinic in Roeselare, West Flanders. She tested negative for Ebola and is being monitored as a precaution, but the incident triggered an immediate response. The Federal Public Service for Public Health (FOD Volksgezondheid) reissued emergency guidance to all hospitals and doctors across Belgium.

“We have once again thoroughly informed hospitals and doctors about the emergency procedures in the event of a suspected infection with the Ebola virus,” Annelies Wynant, spokesperson for the FOD Volksgezondheid, told Belga News Agency.

Two Specialized Referral Hospitals

Belgium has designated two hospitals with high-level isolation units capable of handling confirmed Ebola patients: UZ Antwerp and UMC Sint-Pieter in Brussels. Dr. Erika Vlieghe, head of infectious diseases at UZ Antwerp, described the facility’s preparedness: “We have a high-level isolation unit where those patients go. It is a separate unit, close to the hospital, with a separate entrance. Staff wear very specific protective clothing, like space suits.”

According to Het Laatste Nieuws, the triage system relies on three criteria: whether the patient has been in the risk area, whether there was potential exposure to an infected patient, and whether symptoms are consistent with Ebola. If all criteria are met, the patient is transferred to one of the specialized units, with the Belgian military (Defensie) handling transport.

Airport Screening and Community Vigilance

Saniport, the health inspection service, is screening passengers arriving on flights from affected regions for visible Ebola symptoms. Emergency physician Stig Walravens of UZ Gent emphasized the importance of frontline vigilance: “When a patient arrives at the ER, we check if they have recently been in a risk area. We ask our entire team — reception, nursing, ambulance staff, and ER doctors — to be vigilant and immediately isolate potential patients.”

Expert Team Deployed to Congo

On May 23, a team from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, led by infectiologist Dr. Laurens Liesenborghs, departed for the DRC to assist with outbreak response, diagnostics, and clinical trials of three candidate drugs. According to VRT NWS, Liesenborghs stated: “Three medicines are ready to be tested. We want to deploy them with patients as quickly as possible to see if we can reduce mortality.”

Risk to Europe Remains Low

Despite the heightened alert, experts assess the risk of Ebola reaching Europe as low. Dr. Liesenborghs explained that “to reach Europe, Ebola is not contagious enough: you need direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected patient.” He noted that despite over 40 Ebola outbreaks worldwide, the virus has never reached Europe. However, the deep historical and familial ties between Belgium and the DRC mean that “extremely many people” travel between the two regions, increasing the probability of imported cases.

A System Tested and Ready

The FOD Volksgezondheid conducted a multi-agency simulation exercise in March 2026 to test Belgium’s response to an Ebola-like outbreak, involving partners including Sciensano, the military, Brussels Airport, and the WHO. That exercise, reported by Medi-sfeer.be, tested coordination across sectors and helped refine protocols that are now being activated.

What to Watch For

As the outbreak in Central Africa continues to evolve, Belgian health authorities remain on alert. The three candidate drugs being tested by the Antwerp team in Congo could prove critical — not only for containing the current outbreak but for future preparedness against a virus that, while unlikely to reach Europe, has demonstrated its capacity to cross borders. The coming weeks will reveal whether Belgium’s layered defense system — from airport screening to specialized isolation units — proves sufficient should the virus arrive on its soil.