Israeli Authorities Warn Hundreds of Thousands After Detection of West Nile Virus Mosquitoes

The Israeli Ministries of Health and Environmental Protection issued a warning on Wednesday to residents in several areas following the capture of mosquitoes infected with the West Nile virus. These infected mosquitoes were found in locations including Petah Tikva, Kafr Qasim, Kafr Bara, Ben Gurion Airport, and the Brenner and Central Arava regional councils, areas home to approximately 320,000 people.

Since the start of the virus season, 17 cases of West Nile virus infection have been diagnosed in Israel, with one patient still hospitalized and one fatality reported due to complications from the disease. Dr. Shay Reicher, head of the Pest and Pest Control Department at the Ministry of Environmental Protection, warned that these findings indicate an increased risk of human exposure to the virus through mosquito bites.

The Ministry of Health emphasized that while most cases are mild, the disease can occasionally lead to severe complications such as encephalitis or meningitis. The public has been urged to eliminate standing water sources, use mosquito repellents, and install window screens to reduce the risk of infection.