Rise in West Nile Fever cases in Israel: What is important to know?
The Ministry of Health reports an increase in West Nile fever morbidity across the country. Since the beginning of the mosquito activity season, 13 patients have been diagnosed with the disease in Israel. Unfortunately, one person has passed away as a result of complications from the disease.
West Nile fever is a disease transmitted to humans through the bite of mosquitoes infected with the virus. Mosquitoes become infected with the virus after biting sick birds. The disease is not transmitted from person to person, but only through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
Most patients who are infected suffer from flu-like symptoms, which include high fever, headaches, general weakness, and a skin rash. In most cases, the disease resolves on its own, but in elderly people or those with weakened immune systems, it can lead to serious medical complications.
To reduce the risk of being bitten, the Ministry of Health recommends that the public take precautionary measures. It is recommended to use mosquito repellent products, install screens on house windows, and drain standing water sources in gardens and on balconies, as these are the places where mosquitoes breed.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation and carry out extermination operations in areas where infected mosquitoes have been found. The public is asked to remain vigilant and to contact their family doctor in the event that suspicious symptoms appear after a bite.