Unvaccinated Woman Hospitalized in Critical Condition with Flu Complications

A 61-year-old woman with no known pre-existing conditions is in critical condition in the general intensive care unit at Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba, part of the Clalit Group. She was hospitalized three days ago due to complications from Influenza A and has since been connected to an ECMO machine, which supports heart and lung function. The woman had not been vaccinated against the flu.

Dr. Michal Katzir, Director of the Infectious Diseases Unit at the hospital, stated that the woman was rushed to the hospital after five days of severe flu symptoms at home, including high fever and acute shortness of breath, with no improvement. She was sedated and put on a ventilator. Her condition worsened overnight, leading to her being connected to the ECMO machine. Her condition remains critical.

Dr. Pnina Shtrit, Director of the Infection Prevention Unit, emphasized that influenza is a serious, multi-system disease that can affect young and healthy individuals, not just infants and the elderly. She noted that the flu season has just begun and highlighted the flu vaccine as the primary defense against severe complications. She advised immediate vaccination, especially for those in risk groups and their families, as it takes about two weeks for antibodies to provide full protection.

Recent weeks have seen other severe flu cases among unvaccinated individuals without pre-existing conditions. An eight-year-old girl was hospitalized in pediatric intensive care at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. In Assuta Ashdod Medical Center, a 17-year-old girl was sedated and ventilated due to severe pneumonia and a dangerous drop in blood pressure, but later recovered. The Ministry of Health reports that the flu season started earlier than usual this year, with Influenza A being the most common strain. As of the week ending October 31st, 153 new flu cases were reported in 14 monitored hospitals. Clalit clinics also saw an increase in flu-like illness visits, remaining around the epidemic threshold.

Since the start of the season, 609 patients with confirmed influenza have been hospitalized, including 465 adults and 137 children. By the end of October, 24 patients were in intensive care (18 adults, 6 children). There have been 19 deaths within 30 days of laboratory-confirmed flu diagnosis this season, with the highest mortality rates among those aged 65 and over, though the flu's primary role in these deaths is not always clear. The flu vaccine is available free of charge and recommended for everyone six months and older, significantly reducing the risk of hospitalization, severe complications, and death, despite only 4.9% of insured individuals having been vaccinated by October 18th.