West Nile Virus-Infected Mosquitoes Found in Multiple Israeli Regions Including Petah Tikva and Ben Gurion Airport

The Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection and Ministry of Health have reported capturing mosquitoes infected with the West Nile virus in several locations across Israel. These areas include Petah Tikva, Ben Gurion Airport, Kafr Qasim, Kafr Bara, and the Brenner and Central Arava regional councils. Since the start of the West Nile virus season, 17 cases have been confirmed nationwide, with one fatality. Most patients exhibited typical symptoms such as fever, rash, and altered consciousness.

The Ministry of Health urged the public to eliminate standing water sources like buckets and plant trays to prevent mosquito breeding. They also recommended using mosquito repellents containing active ingredients, operating fans indoors and outdoors, and reporting mosquito nuisances to local authorities via hotline 106. These measures aim to reduce the spread of the virus and protect public health as the mosquito season continues.