Israel Prepares Hospitals for Possible Ebola Import as Global Risk Remains Low

Israel’s Health Ministry began preparing hospitals, medical teams, and public health systems on or before June 7, 2026, for the possibility that a suspected Ebola patient arrives in the country. The ministry stated that the risk of an outbreak in Israel remains low, yet the spread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and confirmed cases in Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, and Germany prompted the preparations.

The outbreak was declared on May 15, 2026, after the Bundibugyo virus was identified in Ituri Province.

The World Health Organization declared the situation a public health emergency of international concern on May 17. As of June 7, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported 344 confirmed cases and 60 deaths in Congo, with infections recorded in 24 health zones across Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces.

Uganda has recorded 15 cases and one death. An American physician who treated patients in Congo was infected, flown in isolation to Germany, and discharged from a Berlin hospital on June 7 after recovering. The ministry said the rapid spread and the arrival of patients outside Congo led officials to review early patient identification, traveler information sharing, protective equipment for staff, possible evacuation procedures, and which hospitals could receive patients under isolation.

Specialized protective suits and equipment for highly infectious diseases have already been distributed to hospitals. The ministry is advancing the establishment of dedicated facilities for suspected cases. Professional guidelines covering case definitions, staff protection, isolation, sample handling, laboratory transfer, and reporting are expected in the coming days.

The ministry is developing a system to give travelers arriving from affected countries information on symptom recognition and prompt reporting. It recommends avoiding non-essential travel to Congo and Uganda, especially areas with active transmission. Travelers who must go are advised to consult a travel medicine clinic beforehand.