Rabies continues to spread: the number of cases is approaching an annual record

A worrying increase in the number of rabies cases in Israel: two brothers from Kedumim were bitten yesterday (Sunday) by a stray dog that turned out to be infected with rabies, and at the same time, a heifer infected with the disease was identified in the Golan Heights. The latest data indicate the continued spread of the disease across the country, with 91 cases of rabies already diagnosed since the beginning of the year.

According to the report, a stray dog entered a house yard in the settlement of Kedumim and attacked two brothers, who were bitten during the incident. Following an immediate report by the residents, the municipal veterinarian arrived at the scene and captured the dog after noticing it was showing neurological signs characteristic of rabies.

The dog was transferred for examination at the Veterinary Institute in Beit Dagan, where laboratory tests confirmed that it was indeed infected with the disease. The two brothers who were bitten were immediately referred for preventive treatment and a rabies vaccination.

Almost an annual record — already at the beginning of August

In another case identified in recent days, a heifer was diagnosed with rabies in the Golan Heights. This case joins a series of incidents identified recently and illustrates that the disease continues to spread in various areas of the country, both among wild animals and domestic animals.

The updated data are particularly worrying: since the beginning of the year, 91 cases of rabies have been identified in Israel — a number approaching the negative record recorded in 2025, when 103 cases were diagnosed throughout the entire year.

If the current rate of spread continues, 2026 is expected to become the most difficult year recorded in Israel in terms of the scale of the rabies outbreak.