Unvaccinated Man, 47, Dies From Flu Complication After Returning From Abroad

A 47-year-old man with no known prior health conditions has died from a severe flu complication at Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva. The man, who had not been vaccinated against the flu, was recently hospitalized in critical condition in the internal intensive care unit after returning from abroad with symptoms that began as a cold and progressed to significant shortness of breath. Despite a week of intensive treatment, his lung condition continued to deteriorate. Doctors connected him to an ECMO machine, which provides external life support for lung function, but he ultimately succumbed to the illness. Dr. Uri Gelanta, director of the internal intensive care unit at Soroka, stated that the severe lung damage from the influenza virus necessitated the ECMO support. The hospital expressed condolences to the family.

Professor Lior Neshir, director of the Institute of Infectious Diseases at Soroka, highlighted that this case demonstrates the risks of flu complications even in healthy individuals. He noted a rise in infections primarily from influenza A virus, with reports from the US and Europe indicating an increase in the H1N1 sub-strain, which is covered by the current season's flu vaccine. Neshir emphasized that the flu can cause life-threatening respiratory complications and stressed the importance of annual vaccination.

This incident follows other severe flu cases in recent weeks, including a 61-year-old unvaccinated woman requiring ECMO at Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba, and an eight-year-old girl and a 17-year-old girl who were intubated and ventilated due to the flu at Shaare Zedek in Jerusalem and Assuta Ashdod, respectively. Both girls have since improved.

According to the Ministry of Health, the flu season began earlier than usual this year, with a continued rise in flu activity, predominantly from type A viruses. In the week ending November 7, 196 new flu cases were reported in 14 monitored hospitals, up from 153 the previous week, with seven flu patients admitted to intensive care. Flu-like illness rates in clinics have also surpassed the epidemic threshold. Since the season began, 826 patients with confirmed flu have been hospitalized, including 634 adults and 182 children. The positive flu case rate was highest among those aged 65 and over. To date, 28 deaths have been recorded among hospitalized flu patients, though the flu's primary role in these fatalities is not yet confirmed.

The flu vaccine is available free of charge and recommended for everyone six months and older. While not providing absolute protection, it significantly reduces the risk of hospitalization, severe complications, and death. As of November 8, 977,091 individuals had been vaccinated, representing 9.9% of the insured population. Vaccination rates were highest among those 65 and over (36.2%) and pregnant women (16.1%), while the lowest rate was among 13-18 year olds at only 2.8%.