Suspected Ebola in Israel: a man who returned from Congo was hospitalized in isolation

Suspected Ebola in Israel: A man who returned from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the last few days developed a fever and sought medical treatment: this is what the Ministry of Health announced this morning (Tuesday). He is currently being treated at the Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva under isolation conditions, and tests designed to determine if he has indeed been infected with the virus are being conducted at this time. The results are expected to be received in the next day.

The Ministry of Health stated that at this stage it is only a suspicion. At the same time as the tests, an epidemiological investigation was opened, with the aim of finding out the circumstances of the man’s stay in the Congo and the contacts he had since returning to Israel.

The current case is taking place after in recent weeks Ebola was suspected in two other cases in Israel. The suspects remained under observation and in isolation according to the procedures, and later the possibility that they contracted the disease was ruled out.

In recent months, against the background of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Uganda, the Ministry of Health is following the developments and conducting preparedness assessments in the health system. The office is calling on the public to avoid non-essential travel to areas where there is active Ebola morbidity.

The Ministry of Health instructed travelers who returned from Congo or Uganda, and in particular from areas where there is active disease, to be alert for the appearance of fever or unusual symptoms during the 21 days after their return. In such a case, one should stay at home, avoid contact with others and make a telephone contact with the voice of health center, mentioning the stay in an area where there is an Ebola morbidity.

The ministry emphasizes once again that currently no Ebola case has been diagnosed in Israel and that the case in Soroka is still in the clear.