Three-Year-Old Dies After Suspected Meningococcal Infection in Tel Aviv Hospital

A 3-year-old toddler died on Saturday morning after arriving at the Dana Children’s Hospital emergency department at Ichilov Medical Center in severe septic shock. Doctors suspected meningococcemia, a dangerous infection caused by meningococcal bacteria, shortly after admission.

Medical staff immediately began resuscitation efforts and worked to stabilize the child, but his condition did not improve. The team later pronounced him dead.

Following the death, the hospital urged parents to vaccinate children. It said there is a vaccine against meningococcal B that is recommended by the Israeli Pediatric Association, and added, "We call on the public to vaccinate infants and toddlers and save lives."

The report was published on June 13, 2026, at 12:30.