Israel's Health Ministry said it has received notice of another suspected Ebola case in a person who recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The individual came back to Israel two days ago and sought medical care after developing fever, headache and diarrhea. Officials emphasized that this is still only a suspicion, with the required tests now underway and results expected in the coming days.
The patient is being treated in isolation according to procedures for high-risk infectious diseases and is being transferred to Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, which has been designated to receive such suspected cases. The ministry is also completing an epidemiological investigation to identify relevant contacts and check for possible links between the cases. Once that process is finished, targeted outreach will be made only to people judged relevant by the risk assessment. Anyone who does not receive a call from the ministry does not need to take any action at this stage.
The ministry reiterated that Ebola is not spread through the air, but through direct contact with a sick person showing symptoms, or with blood, bodily fluids or secretions. To clarify the suspicion, a series of laboratory tests is being conducted under accepted medical protocols in Israel and worldwide. In recent months, amid outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, the ministry has maintained ongoing monitoring and system-wide preparedness.
That preparedness included professional guidance for medical teams and relevant hospitals, stockpiling protective equipment and specialized gear, establishing early-detection systems for returning travelers from affected areas, and creating a laboratory detection capability for Ebola. The ministry again urged the public to avoid nonessential travel to areas with active transmission, especially Congo and Uganda, and told returnees who develop fever or unusual symptoms within 21 days to stay home, avoid contact with others and call the Health Ministry hotline *5400. It said Israel currently has two suspected cases only, and no confirmed Ebola case has been diagnosed in the country.
