Rabies Cases Triple in Israel Amid Geographic Spread and Rising Public Exposure Risks

Between 2022 and 2025, Israel experienced a sharp 252% increase in diagnosed rabies cases among animals, rising from 29 to 102 cases, the highest in recent years. Concurrently, calls to health offices regarding suspected rabies exposure nearly doubled over 15 years, from 12,343 in 2010 to 24,219 in 2025, according to data released by the Ministry of Health. This surge accompanies a geographic expansion of rabies hotspots, increasing risks for both humans and animals.

Prof. Sigal Sadetzki, head of the Public Health Division at the Ministry of Health, expressed concern over the alarming rise in rabies among wildlife, particularly the spread from foxes to other wild animals and increased encounters with wildlife in urban areas. She noted that areas once primarily affected, such as northern Israel, the Upper Galilee, and the Golan Heights, have expanded to include regions like Gilboa, Sharon, Emek Hefer, Hadera, and Hod Hasharon, making the entire country endemic for rabies. Sadetzki warned against feeding wild animals, which attracts them closer to humans, and highlighted the dangers of moving potentially infected dogs between regions, citing recent cases of infected dogs transported from the north to central Israel.

Data from January to May 2026 showed 63 animals diagnosed with rabies, with 62% of cases in dogs, a significant shift from previous years when foxes were the main reservoir. This trend raises concerns about increased human exposure due to dogs' proximity to people. The Ministry estimates around 150 animal rabies cases for 2026 and is preparing accordingly.

Between January and April 2026, 7,838 people sought guidance after possible exposure to suspected rabid animals; about half were advised to receive post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and 1,815 received rabies immunoglobulin. Most exposure reports came from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Petah Tikva districts, with northern health offices also notably active due to ongoing rabies foci.

Despite the rise in cases, rabies deaths in Israel remain rare. Since the state's early years, only a few human fatalities have occurred, with the most recent in 2024 involving a 77-year-old shepherd who refused preventive treatment. The Ministry also clarified a recent suspected rabies death in a 30-year-old Palestinian from Nablus was not confirmed as rabies after laboratory testing.

Rabies control in Israel relies on cooperation between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, including vaccination of domestic animals, oral vaccination of wildlife, epidemiological investigations, and public education. However, the ongoing conflict in northern Israel disrupted aerial distribution of oral vaccines for wild animals, limiting efforts. Authorities emphasize the importance of responsible pet adoption, vaccination, and avoiding feeding wildlife to curb the disease's spread. Interministerial forums continue to coordinate prevention and response activities nationwide.