Health Ministry: Ebola Test Results Negative for Traveler From Congo

Israel's Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday that tests for Ebola on a patient hospitalized under suspicion of having the virus have come back negative. The individual had recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The ministry stated that the tests were conducted according to professional procedures and international guidelines for high-risk infectious diseases. It emphasized that no confirmed cases of Ebola have been diagnosed in Israel to date.

Ministry officials reiterated that Ebola is not airborne and is transmitted through direct contact with an infected person showing symptoms, or through contact with blood, bodily fluids, or secretions. The ministry continues to monitor the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and maintains the health system's readiness for any potential scenario.

The Ministry of Health renewed its advisory for the public to avoid non-essential travel to areas with active Ebola cases. Travelers returning from such regions who develop a fever or unusual symptoms within 21 days of their return are urged to stay home, avoid contact with others, and call the "Kol Habriut" (Voice of Health) center.