West Nile Virus-Carrying Mosquitoes Found at Ben Gurion Airport and Other Israeli Sites

Mosquitoes infected with the West Nile virus have been captured near Ben Gurion Airport and five other locations across Israel, including Petah Tikva, Kafr Qasim, Kafr Bara, and the Brenner and Central Arava regional councils. Since the start of the disease season, 17 cases have been diagnosed, with one patient still hospitalized and one fatality reported. The infected mosquitoes were detected through routine monitoring conducted by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

Most patients exhibited symptoms such as fever, rash, and altered consciousness. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to determine where exposure to the infected mosquitoes occurred. The Ministry of Environmental Protection has instructed local authorities to intensify prevention, monitoring, public awareness, and mosquito control efforts, especially in areas where infected mosquitoes were found.

Professor Sigal Sadetzki, head of the Public Health Division at the Ministry of Health, explained that West Nile virus is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites from mosquitoes that feed on infected birds. While the disease is usually mild or asymptomatic, severe cases can involve inflammation of the brain or meninges. Authorities urge the public to eliminate standing water, use approved mosquito repellents, install window screens, and report mosquito nuisances or standing water sources to hotline 106.