Rabies Cases Surge in Israel, Nearing Annual Record with 91 Infections in 2026

Rabies continues to spread alarmingly across Israel, with 91 confirmed cases reported since the start of 2026, approaching the annual record of 103 cases set in 2025. On Sunday, two brothers in the West Bank settlement of Kedumim were bitten by a stray dog later confirmed to be rabid. The dog was captured by a veterinary authority after exhibiting neurological symptoms typical of rabies and was tested positive at the veterinary institute in Beit Dagan. The brothers immediately received preventive treatment and rabies vaccinations.

In a separate incident in the Golan Heights, a cow was diagnosed with rabies, highlighting the disease's spread among both wild and domesticated animals in various regions of the country. The recent cases underscore a worrying trend of rabies outbreaks in Israel, with the current pace suggesting that 2026 could become the worst year on record for the disease's prevalence. Authorities continue to monitor and respond to these developments to contain the epidemic.