Israel’s Health Ministry said on Friday it had received a report of a person suspected of having Ebola after returning to Israel three days earlier from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The patient sought medical care after developing a fever and headaches. The ministry stressed that this is only a suspicion for now, and the required tests are being conducted, with results expected within 24 hours.
The patient is being treated in isolation under professional procedures and, following the ministry’s assessment, is being transferred to Rambam Medical Center, which has been designated to receive suspected cases of this type. At the same time, an epidemiological investigation is underway to identify contacts.
The ministry said Ebola outbreaks have recently been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, and that it is closely monitoring developments worldwide while holding systemic preparedness assessments for any possible scenario. As part of that preparation, professional guidance has been distributed to medical teams and relevant hospitals, protective equipment and dedicated gear have been stocked, early detection systems have been set up for travelers returning from outbreak areas, and a laboratory system for diagnosing Ebola has been established.
The public is again being urged to avoid nonessential travel to areas with active Ebola transmission, especially the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Travelers to those areas are advised to consult a travel clinic in advance. Anyone returning from Congo or Uganda, especially from active transmission zones, who develops fever or unusual symptoms within 21 days of return should stay home, avoid contact with others, and call the Health Ministry’s Kol HaBriut hotline at *5400, making clear during the call that they were in an Ebola-affected area.
