Health Ministry: 153 cases of West Nile fever registered, first cases reported in Eilat

On Wednesday, July 3, the Israeli Health Ministry reported that 153 people have been diagnosed with West Nile fever. Four more patients have died in the past three days, bringing the number of Israelis who have died from the disease to 11.

Health Ministry specialists note that in 80% of cases of infection the disease proceeds without symptoms, in 20% of cases the patients complain of general malaise, headaches and body aches, and their temperature rises. Neurological complications develop in 1% of patients.

The virus is not transmitted from person to person. The elderly and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk.

On Wednesday, July 3, the Environment Ministry reported the discovery of mosquitoes carrying the West Nile fever virus in central Israel, as well as in the Eilat area, where the first cases of the disease were registered. The Environment Ministry issued instructions to local authorities on how to combat the mosquitoes.