Second Israeli Suspected of Ebola After Return From Congo

Israel’s Health Ministry said on Sunday that another Israeli who returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo two days earlier is suspected of having Ebola. The patient sought medical care after developing symptoms consistent with Ebola, including fever, headache and diarrhea. Tests are now being carried out, and results are expected in the coming days. The person is being treated in isolation and transferred to Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, one of five hospitals placed on high alert for possible Ebola admissions.

The ministry stressed that, for now, there are only two suspected cases in Israel and no confirmed Ebola case has been diagnosed in the country. The announcement comes amid an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda in recent months.

On Friday, the ministry had already reported another suspected Ebola case after a traveler returned from Congo and sought treatment for fever and headache. That patient was moved to Rambam Medical Center, which was designated as a dedicated intake center for such cases, while epidemiological investigators worked to trace contacts.

The Health Ministry also circulated a shortened protocol for hospitals and clinics on how to handle a suspected Ebola patient. According to the guidance, Magen David Adom will carry out the transfer with protection for staff and others, and the patient will be taken to a prearranged unit, in this case Rambam. The five hospitals designated as highly prepared are Sheba, Ichilov, Hadassah Ein Kerem, Soroka and Rambam.