Mosquitoes carrying West Nile fever detected in Israel: six cases reported

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environmental Protection announced today that for the first time this year, mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus have been captured in Israel. The insects were detected in the Tamar Regional Council in the south of the country, prompting authorities to expand monitoring, pest control, and public awareness efforts. Since the beginning of the year, six patients have been diagnosed with the disease in Israel.

As part of ongoing year-round monitoring, laboratories at the Ministry of Health confirmed that mosquitoes collected in the Tamar Regional Council area were carriers of the West Nile virus. No other hotspots have been identified in the country at this time.

Professor Sigal Sadetzki, Head of Public Health Services at the Ministry of Health, explains that West Nile fever is transmitted to humans through the bites of mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds. While the disease is usually mild or asymptomatic, she noted that in exceptional cases, it can lead to severe complications such as encephalitis or meningitis.

Dr. Shay Reichert, Director of the Pest Control Division at the Ministry of Environmental Protection, stated:

«The capture of these infected mosquitoes demonstrates that our national monitoring system is effectively identifying risk hotspots in real-time, allowing local authorities to act swiftly. The public also plays a vital role by draining standing water and reporting hazards to their local municipality.»

Officials remind the public that the risk of mosquito breeding increases during the summer months, particularly between June and November. Residents are urged to drain sources of standing water, use mosquito repellent, install window screens, and report mosquito hazards to the local authority's 106 hotline.