West Nile Virus-Carrying Mosquitoes Found Across Israel Amid Health Warnings

The Israeli Ministry of Health and Ministry of Environmental Protection announced on Wednesday that mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus have been detected in multiple locations across Israel. Since the start of the disease season, 17 cases have been diagnosed, including one fatality and one patient still hospitalized. Infected mosquitoes were trapped in areas including Petah Tikva, Kafr Qasim, Kafr Bara, near Ben Gurion Airport, and the Brenner and Central Arava regional councils. These mosquitoes were identified through routine monitoring and confirmed by Health Ministry laboratories as virus carriers.

Most patients exhibited typical symptoms such as fever, rash, and altered consciousness. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to determine where patients may have been exposed to the infected mosquitoes. The Ministry of Environmental Protection has instructed local authorities, especially in affected areas, to intensify prevention, monitoring, public education, and mosquito control efforts.

Professor Sigal Sadetzki, head of the Public Health Division at the Ministry of Health, explained that West Nile fever is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites from infected birds. While most cases are mild or asymptomatic, severe symptoms like encephalitis or meningitis can occur, especially in people over 60 or those with underlying health conditions.

To prevent infection, the public is urged to eliminate standing water sources such as buckets, plant saucers, old tires, gutters, and ornamental pools. Additional recommendations include using approved mosquito repellents, installing window screens, wearing long light-colored clothing, and using fans. Residents are encouraged to report mosquito nuisances or standing water in public areas to their local municipality via hotline 106, enabling targeted monitoring and control measures.