Health Ministry investigates another possible Ebola case after return from Congo

Israel’s Health Ministry said on Sunday, June 21, 2026, that it is examining another suspected Ebola case in a person who recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The man came back to Israel two days earlier and sought medical care after developing fever, headache and diarrhea. Officials stressed that this is only a suspicion for now, and the required tests are under way, with results expected in the coming days.

The ministry said the patient is being treated in isolation under professional procedures for highly dangerous infectious diseases and is being transferred to Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, one of the designated facilities for such cases. At the same time, the ministry is completing an epidemiological investigation to identify relevant contacts and possible links between cases. Once the inquiry is finished, people assessed as relevant will be contacted proactively based on risk.

Health officials also reiterated that Ebola is not spread through the air. Infection occurs through direct contact with a symptomatic patient, or with blood, body fluids or secretions. To confirm or rule out the case, a series of laboratory tests is being carried out according to accepted medical protocols in Israel and abroad.

The ministry said it has been closely monitoring the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda in recent months, and has maintained system-wide preparedness for any scenario. As part of that readiness, professional guidance was sent to medical teams and relevant hospitals, protective equipment and dedicated supplies were stocked, early-detection mechanisms for travelers returning from affected regions were established, and a laboratory system for identifying Ebola cases was set up.