Suspected Ebola patient being treated at Haifa hospital after recent trip to DRC
A man suspected of recently contracting Ebola after traveling to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been hospitalized in isolation at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, the Health Ministry said Friday, as the Bundibugyo strain spreads in the DRC and Uganda.
The ministry said the patient is still undergoing testing, with results expected in about 48 hours. Infection has not yet been confirmed. Contact tracing is underway to notify anyone who may have been exposed.
Health officials stressed that Ebola is not airborne and spreads only through direct contact with a symptomatic patient or their blood and bodily fluids. Kan News released footage showing Magen David Adom staff being disinfected after contact with the suspected patient.
Israel has been preparing for Ebola cases since an outbreak was first reported in the DRC on May 15, 2026. The Health Ministry said the likelihood of a local outbreak remains low but has distributed protective equipment, issued clinical guidelines, and asked hospitals to set up dedicated treatment areas. There have been no confirmed Ebola cases in Israel to date, though suspected cases during a 2014 outbreak tested negative.
The ministry also advises against non-essential travel to affected areas in the DRC and Uganda. Travelers returning from those regions who develop fever or unusual symptoms within 21 days are urged to stay home, avoid contact with others, and contact the ministry hotline.
According to Africa CDC, the current outbreak has caused more than 200 deaths in its first month, with 894 confirmed cases, about 35,000 suspected contacts, and a 38 percent rise in cases since last week. It now spans 32 health zones in eastern Congo. Uganda has reported 19 confirmed cases and two deaths, while 74 patients have recovered.
The outbreak is centered in Ituri province, which accounts for over 90 percent of cases, with additional spread to North Kivu and South Kivu. Officials say contact tracing is hindered by remote terrain and insecurity, with only about 4,000 of an estimated 17,000 to 35,000 contacts currently being monitored.
The Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccines or treatments, unlike the Zaire strain, though experimental therapies such as monoclonal antibodies are being developed.
