Patient held in isolation in Soroka Hospital tests negative for Ebola after returning from DRC

On Friday, Israel's Health Ministry announced that a patient who had recently returned from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) had tested negative for Ebola after being placed in isolation at Soroka Medical Center. The individual had developed a fever following their return and was admitted to the hospital several days prior to the test results.

In response to the patient's recovery, the Health Ministry issued a public advisory urging residents to refrain from traveling to the DRC and to self-isolate if they had recently returned from the DRC or Uganda, where an Ebola outbreak has been spreading. They instructed anyone experiencing symptoms within 21 days of their return to call the Health Ministry hotline at *5400 for guidance.

The Ministry reiterated that as of now, there have been no confirmed cases of Ebola within Israel. The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC is attributed to the Bundibugyo species of the virus, which lacks an approved treatment or vaccine. This outbreak is on track to become the largest in history, surpassing the 2014-2016 outbreak that claimed 28,616 lives in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, according to the World Health Organization.

Since the outbreak's declaration less than three months ago, more than 4,381 cases have been confirmed, resulting in 2,011 deaths. This rapid escalation contrasts with the 12-month period it took during the 2014 outbreak to reach the same death toll. It is important to note that Ebola is not airborne and can only be transmitted through direct contact with infected individuals exhibiting symptoms or through their blood, bodily fluids, or secretions.

The Health Ministry remains vigilant in monitoring the situation and is actively preparing the healthcare system to effectively handle any potential Ebola cases.