Israel’s Ministry of Health has reported a second suspected case of Ebola in Israel after a man who returned to Israel from the Democratic Republic of the Congo two days ago sought medical treatment after developing a fever, headache, and diarrhea, Ynet reported.

He is currently being treated under isolation protocols for highly contagious diseases at Sheba Medical Center. The results of the tests he underwent are expected in the coming days.

This is the second suspected case reported in Israel within two days. On Friday, the Ministry of Health announced the first suspected case: a man who returned from Congo developed a fever and headache and was placed in full isolation at Rambam Hospital in Haifa. That case also remains unconfirmed, and test results have not yet been received.

In response, Israel’s Interior Ministry has temporarily barred the entry of foreign nationals from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan.

The Ministry of Health emphasized that no confirmed Ebola cases have been diagnosed in Israel. Epidemiological investigations are underway in both cases to identify relevant contacts and determine whether there is any connection between them.

Once the investigations are completed, health authorities will contact any individuals deemed relevant based on risk assessments. Anyone who is not contacted directly by the Ministry of Health is not currently required to take any action.

Tal Brosh, director of the Infectious Diseases Unit at Assuta Ashdod Public Hospital and head of the Ministry of Health’s pandemic response team, explained that Ebola is caused by a virus originating in animals, most likely bats.

“It causes fever, flu-like aches, diarrhea, and vomiting, and in some patients leads to bleeding and multi-organ failure,” he said.

According to Brosh, Ebola remains a major concern for public health authorities worldwide because of its high mortality rate and its ability to spread from person to person and from patients to healthcare workers.

“The current outbreak is taking place in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is not under control because of the limited capabilities of local authorities in that region. The outlook for bringing the outbreak under control is currently bleak,” he told Ynet.

Brosh stressed that the risk to Israelis traveling to Africa remains extremely low.

“Ebola transmission requires close, direct contact with an infected person, and the disease is not airborne like measles or COVID-19.”

However, because of the serious implications of an Ebola case reaching Israel, authorities are taking a highly cautious approach.

“Anyone who has been in a country with Ebola cases during the past 21 days—currently Congo or Uganda—and develops any fever-related illness should remain isolated at home and notify the Ministry of Health,” Brosh said. “Suspected patients will be transported by specially protected Magen David Adom teams to a hospital for testing to confirm or rule out Ebola.”

He added: “There is no concern about an Ebola epidemic in Israel, only the possibility of isolated imported cases from Africa and limited transmission. Only those who have been in Congo or Uganda are at any meaningful risk. There is currently no risk to Israelis in Israel of contracting Ebola.”

Brosh emphasized that the outbreak has not spread beyond Africa. All confirmed cases have been linked to Congo, with a small number of cases in Uganda involving people infected by patients arriving from Congo.

“Someone who was in Congo but has no symptoms poses no risk to anyone,” he said.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)