Health Ministry clears Ebola suspicion in two Congo returnees

Israel’s Health Ministry said on Tuesday that Ebola tests on two people suspected of infection after returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo came back negative. The ministry said the testing was carried out according to professional procedures and accepted international guidelines for dealing with high-risk infectious diseases, and that the two patients continue to receive medical care based on their condition.

The ministry emphasized that there is currently no confirmed Ebola case in Israel. It also repeated that Ebola is not airborne and is transmitted only through direct contact with an ill person showing symptoms, or with blood, body fluids, or secretions.

Officials said the ministry is continuing to monitor the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda and is maintaining system-wide preparedness to ensure the health system is ready for any scenario. The ministry again urged the public to avoid nonessential travel to areas where active Ebola transmission exists.