Israel Reports Another Suspected Ebola Case After Congo Returnee Falls Ill

Israel’s Health Ministry said it received a report of another person suspected of having Ebola after returning from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The person came back to Israel two days ago and sought medical care after developing a fever, headache and diarrhea. At this stage, the case is only a suspicion, and the required tests are now being conducted, with results expected in the coming days.

The patient is being treated in isolation under the professional procedures for managing highly dangerous infectious diseases and is being transferred to Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, which has been designated as one of the facilities prepared to receive such suspected cases. The ministry is also continuing its epidemiological investigation to identify relevant contacts and possible links between cases, and said targeted outreach will be made to people deemed relevant based on risk assessment.

The ministry stressed that Ebola is not airborne and is transmitted through direct contact with a symptomatic patient or with blood, body fluids or secretions. It said anyone who does not receive contact from the ministry does not need to take any action at this stage.

Officials said that, in recent months, after Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, the ministry has been monitoring developments and preparing the health system, including professional guidance for medical teams and hospitals, protective equipment, early-detection procedures for returning travelers, and a laboratory testing system for Ebola. The public is again urged to avoid nonessential travel to areas with active Ebola transmission, especially the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Travelers returning from those countries who develop fever or unusual symptoms within 21 days should stay home, avoid contact with others and call the Health Ministry hotline *5400, while saying they were in an Ebola-affected area. The ministry emphasized that there are now two suspected cases in Israel and no confirmed Ebola case.