Tel Aviv, June 20: The Israeli Ministry of Health has placed a man in isolation following his recent trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This precautionary measure comes as authorities investigate a potential Ebola infection. The ministry announced that the final test results may take approximately 48 hours to arrive.
According to the statement, the patient is receiving treatment in isolation, and efforts are underway to identify individuals who may have come into contact with him.
The ministry clarified that it has not yet confirmed whether the individual is indeed infected with the Ebola virus. In an effort to alleviate public fear, officials emphasized that Ebola does not spread through the air. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with an infected person’s symptoms, blood, bodily fluids, or secretions.
On Friday, the Israeli health authorities reported receiving information about a person who had recently traveled to the DRC and was suspected of having contracted Ebola after returning.
The patient has been transferred to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, designated for treating Ebola cases. The ministry has yet to confirm any Ebola diagnosis.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued an update on the Ebola situation on Friday. As of June 17, there have been 896 confirmed cases of Ebola across 31 health zones in the DRC, with 232 reported fatalities. Additionally, Uganda has reported 19 cases of infection and confirmed two deaths.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern over the current situation, urging a ceasefire between local authorities and the M23 armed group in the eastern DRC. He stated that a ceasefire would facilitate the delivery of medicines and essential health services to affected populations.
The eastern DRC is home to over two million displaced individuals, where Ebola is spreading rapidly. This region is connected to areas with ongoing trade, family ties, and the movement of refugees from neighboring countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, and South Sudan.
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