Health Ministry prepares hospitals for Ebola while chance of outbreak remains low

While the chance of an outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus in Israel remains low, the Health Ministry has distributed protective equipment to hospitals for the safe treatment of suspected cases.

Since the disease broke out in the Democratic Republic of Congo on May 5, 2026, there have been nearly 1,000 cases and over 200 deaths reported.

There is no known spread of the virus outside of Africa, except for patients who were flown securely to receive medical treatment in Europe and the US. As part of its preparations, the ministry is encouraging hospitals to establish dedicated complexes for treating cases suspected of the disease.

The ministry says this is a preliminary step in a low-probability scenario, emphasizing that early preparation does not indicate a change in the risk assessment.

The ministry is also working to distribute professional guidelines in the coming days to relevant medical teams and hospitals, which are prepared to receive a suspected Ebola case should it reach Israel.

The ministry recommends avoiding non-essential travel to areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda where cases of the disease are known.

Travelers who have returned from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda and develop a fever or unusual symptoms within 21 days are asked to stay home and avoid contact with others, and to immediately contact the ministry’s hotline.

The World Health Organization has said that late detection, the absence of a vaccine or virus-specific therapeutics, widespread armed violence, and high mobility among the population make Congo especially vulnerable.

Ebola is a lethal infectious disease with high fatality rates, transmitted primarily through direct contact with a symptomatic patient or with blood, secretions, and body fluids.

The ministry continues to monitor developments worldwide and update medical teams and the public as necessary.