Israel Health Ministry Warns of Suspected First Ebola Case

Israel's Ministry of Health issued a dramatic warning on Thursday regarding a suspected case of Ebola in the country. The individual in question recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo and subsequently developed a fever. This is currently only a suspicion, and the person will undergo necessary medical evaluations and tests, with results expected in the coming days.

The patient will be treated under isolation protocols for high-risk infectious diseases and transferred to Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center, designated as a facility for handling such suspected cases. Laboratory tests will be conducted according to international and Israeli medical protocols to confirm or rule out the diagnosis. The Ministry of Health has also completed an epidemiological investigation to identify potential contacts, emphasizing that individuals not contacted by the Ministry need not take any action at this time.

The Ministry clarified that Ebola is not airborne and is transmitted through direct contact with symptomatic individuals or their bodily fluids. As of now, no confirmed Ebola cases have been diagnosed in Israel. In response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Ministry has been monitoring global developments and preparing the health system for months.

Preparations have included distributing professional guidelines to medical teams and hospitals, acquiring protective equipment, establishing mechanisms for early detection of travelers from affected areas, and setting up laboratory systems for Ebola detection. The Ministry advises the public to avoid non-essential travel to active Ebola zones, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo, and recommends seeking individual consultation at travel clinics for those traveling to these regions.

Individuals returning from Congo who develop fever or unusual symptoms within 21 days of their visit are urged to stay home, avoid contact with others, and call the Ministry of Health's hotline at *5400, mentioning their travel history from an Ebola-affected area during the initial call.