Israeli Authorities Investigate Suspected Rabies Death of Palestinian Man from Nablus

Israeli health and agriculture ministries are investigating a suspected rabies case involving a Palestinian man in his 30s from Nablus. Tests are ongoing, and the diagnosis has not yet been confirmed. Rabies is a fatal viral disease affecting all mammals, with a 100% mortality rate if untreated after infection, according to Professor Yasmin Maor, head of infectious diseases at Wolfson Medical Center and chair of the Israeli Infectious Diseases Association.

In October 2024, a man from Nazareth died of rabies, marking the first such fatality in Israel in about 20 years. Infection can occur not only through bites but also scratches. Symptoms resemble encephalitis, including confusion, fever, and hydrophobia, a fear of water caused by brain damage. Once symptoms appear, there is no effective treatment, making immediate post-exposure vaccination critical.

Rabies cases in Israel, once confined mainly to the north, have recently spread rapidly to central regions including Modiin, Holon, Ra'anana, Shoham, and Rosh HaAyin. Dr. Anat Lichter Feld, chair of the Israeli Organization for Veterinary Medicine of Pets, warned that the number of cases in 2024 is expected to exceed those of 2023, with the disease spreading geographically. Despite this, she noted insufficient containment efforts.

The Ministry of Health frequently reports rabid animals found across the country. Recently, a rabid civet was discovered near Ayelet Hashahar in the Upper Galilee, and a rabid dog traveled by train from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, exposing dozens of people at Azrieli Mall and dog parks, who were subsequently given preventive treatment.

Professor Maor emphasized the concerning expansion of rabies in Israel and stricter post-exposure treatment protocols, especially in central Israel. She urged anyone bitten or scratched by animals, including stray cats, to immediately seek health authority consultation rather than relying solely on vaccination status claims. The Ministry of Health advises immediate washing and disinfection of wounds and urgent contact with health services for potential preventive treatment after any suspected exposure.