Israeli Man Dies of Flu Complications After Returning From Abroad

A 47-year-old Israeli man has died from complications of the flu at Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva, it was reported on Wednesday, November 11. The patient, who had no known pre-existing conditions and was not vaccinated against the flu, had recently returned from abroad with symptoms initially resembling a common cold. His condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to severe shortness of breath and hospitalization in the intensive care unit. Despite a week of intensive treatment, his lung damage progressed, prompting doctors to place him on an ECMO machine, which provides artificial support for lung function. The hospital confirmed his death, expressing condolences to his family.

Professor Lior Nesher, Director of the Infectious Disease Institute at Soroka, highlighted the danger of the flu, even for healthy individuals. He noted that the current season is seeing a prevalence of Influenza A, including the H1N1 subtype, which is circulating in the US and Europe. Nesher emphasized that the current flu vaccine protects against this strain and urged annual vaccination due to the risk of severe respiratory complications and life-threatening outcomes.

This case follows other severe flu instances, including a 61-year-old unvaccinated woman placed on ECMO at Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba. Additionally, an eight-year-old girl at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem and a 17-year-old at Assuta Hospital in Ashdod required mechanical ventilation and medically induced comas, though both have since improved. None of these children had prior chronic illnesses and were unvaccinated.

According to the Israeli Ministry of Health, the flu season began earlier than usual this year, with a continued rise in cases. As of November 7, 196 new flu cases were reported in monitoring hospitals, up from 153 the previous week. Seven patients, six adults and one child, were admitted to intensive care units during that week. Flu-like symptom consultations have also surpassed the epidemic threshold. Since the season began, 826 patients with laboratory-confirmed flu have been hospitalized, including 634 adults, 182 children, and 10 pregnant women. The highest rate of positive flu tests was among those aged 65 and older. To date, 28 deaths among hospitalized flu patients have been recorded, though the primary cause of death is not yet confirmed in all cases.

Vaccination rates remain low, with only 9.9% of insured individuals having received the flu shot by November 8. While 36.2% of those aged 65 and older and 16.1% of pregnant women were vaccinated, vaccination rates were significantly lower among teenagers (2.8%). Flu vaccinations are free through Israel's health maintenance organizations and recommended for everyone over six months old, as they significantly reduce the risk of hospitalization, severe complications, and death.