Two suspected Ebola patients placed in isolation after returning from DRC, Health Ministry says

Two suspected Ebola patients have been hospitalized and placed in isolation, the Health Ministry announced on Tuesday.

The two individuals developed a fever after returning to Israel from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is currently in the midst of an Ebola virus outbreak that has infected over 10,000 people since it was first declared in May and has killed over 5,000.

The ministry emphasized that there have been no confirmed cases of Ebola in Israel, and the two individuals in isolation are only suspected to have possibly contracted the virus.

The ministry will be completing an epidemiological investigation to identify relevant contacts in accordance with established protocols, and unless contacted directly by the ministry, no one is required to take any action at this stage.

The Health Ministry has been continuously monitoring the situation in the DRC and elsewhere since the beginning of the outbreak and preparing the healthcare system to ensure readiness for any possible scenario, the ministry said.

Professional guidelines have been distributed to medical teams and relevant hospitals on managing suspected cases, and early detection mechanisms have been established for travelers returning from affected areas, along with a laboratory testing system for identifying Ebola.

Health Ministry issues travel recommendations to avoid DRC and border countries

The Health Ministry reiterated its travel recommendations to avoid travel to the affected provinces of the DRC, and to avoid nonessential travel to countries bordering the DRC, including Uganda, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Angola, and the Republic of the Congo.

Travelers planning to visit Kenya or Nigeria are advised to reconsider whether their trips are necessary.

Travelers who have returned from the DRC and develop a fever above 38°C (100.4°F) or unusual symptoms within 21 days of their stay are instructed to remain at home and avoid contact with others.

They should contact the Health Ministry's Kol HaBriut hotline by calling *5400 for further instructions. They should not visit a medical facility without making arrangements in advance and must mention their recent stay in the DRC during the call.

The two suspected patients are currently undergoing a series of laboratory tests, one at Sheba Medical Center and the other at Ichilov Medical Center. Both hospitals have been designated as specialized centers for treating suspected cases.