Health Ministry investigating another suspected Ebola case after traveler returns from DR Congo

Israel’s Health Ministry is investigating another suspected Ebola case after a traveler returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo and developed a fever and other unnamed symptoms.

The ministry said the case has not been confirmed and that tests are underway, with results expected in the coming days. The patient is expected to receive treatment in isolation at Sourasky Medical Center’s Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, one of the designated facilities for suspected high-risk infectious disease cases.

The ministry said Israel has not diagnosed any confirmed Ebola cases. It has monitored the outbreak in the DRC and prepared hospitals and laboratories by issuing medical guidelines, obtaining protective equipment and specialized supplies, and establishing systems to identify returning travelers who may be infected.

Officials reminded the public that Ebola does not spread through the air. Transmission occurs through direct contact with a symptomatic person or with blood, bodily fluids, or secretions. The ministry advised Israelis to avoid nonessential travel to areas experiencing active outbreaks, particularly the DRC.

Travelers returning from the DRC who develop a fever or unusual symptoms within 21 days should stay home, avoid contact with others, and call the Health Ministry’s Kol Habriut hotline at *5400.