Rabies Spread in Israel Raises Alarm After Jackal Attack in the Galilee

Jackals broke into campers’ tents near the Sea of Galilee on Saturday night, attacked vacationers and bit a girl in the face, requiring medical treatment. Authorities also fear the animals may have been rabid, in a case that comes days after a rabid puppy roamed Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, exposed dozens of dogs to quarantine and forced about 25 people to receive preventive treatment.

Experts say rabies is spreading in Israel in both the number of cases and the range of animals affected. Israel recorded 102 cases in 2025, a record and far above the annual average of 32, and 66 cases have already been reported in 2026. Prof. Ami Neuberger of Rambam Medical Center said the official numbers are only “the tip of the iceberg” and warned that rabies has “100% mortality” after symptoms appear. Prof. Nadav Davidovitch said the warning signs have been visible for years.

Officials said the problem began with wild animals crossing from Lebanon and Syria into northern Israel, then spread through suburbs, abandoned animals and, later, through dogs in the West Bank, where vaccination and enforcement are limited. Dr. Tamir Goshen of the Agriculture Ministry said the Palestinian Authority has only two kennels for about 100 dogs and uncontrolled breeding is worsening the situation. Dr. Nuriel Shoov, Tel Aviv’s city veterinarian, described cases in which an improperly adopted puppy from Pisgat Ze'ev, a stray dog brought onto a military base near Shoham, and an unvaccinated guard dog all led to rabies exposure or death.

Doctors stressed that rabies virus is in saliva and can spread through bites, scratches, or even licking an open wound. Because there is no test that confirms rabies in a living animal, any bite or scratch from an unknown or unvaccinated animal should trigger immediate action: preventive shots for people and, for animals, a booster and quarantine that can last up to six months at the owner’s expense. Officials urged parents to tell children to report any contact with unfamiliar animals.

The Agriculture Ministry plans to expand oral vaccine bait drops for wildlife, buy stronger bait for stray dogs, increase vaccinations and quarantines, and launch a public awareness campaign. The Nature and Parks Authority said it is already working with the ministry on baiting in infected areas, and Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan and other cities are coordinating oral vaccination efforts and a study focused on jackals. Shoov said the goal is not to kill the jackals, but to trap and sterilize them.