Rabies Outbreak in Yarkon Park: Woman Bitten, 10 People Sent for Vaccination
A dog infected with rabies was found in a parking lot in Ramat Gan; the Ministry of Health urges anyone who had contact with it to seek medical evaluation: "We must not allow a repeat of the fatal outcome seen two years ago."
The Ministry of Health reported on Wednesday that a dog infected with rabies was found in a parking lot at Ganei Yehoshua in Ramat Gan. Following the incident, 10 people who were exposed to the dog were referred for preventive rabies vaccination. A source familiar with the details told mako that one woman was bitten by the dog, which has since been put down.
The Ministry of Health is urging anyone who had contact with the infected dog, or whose animals came into contact with it or any stray animal in the area between August 7 and August 12 (inclusive), to contact their local health bureau urgently to assess the need for preventive treatment. Parents are asked to check with their children regarding any contact with suspicious animals, and pet owners are advised to verify their animals' vaccination status with a local veterinarian.
Dr. Michael Ettinger, Chairman of the Israel Veterinary Medical Association, warns that the incident in Ramat Gan is not an isolated case:
"Since the beginning of the year, we have already passed the threshold of 90 confirmed rabies cases. The disease is no longer limited to the north; we are seeing it in the Sharon, Samaria, and now in Gush Dan. When rabies appears in the center of the country, it is a warning light that requires decision-makers to act."
According to Dr. Ettinger, Israel must shift from managing isolated incidents to a national rabies prevention program. He advocates for the 'One Health' approach, where the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, veterinary services, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and local authorities act within a single coordinated framework. He notes that while 103 cases were diagnosed in 2025, the 90-case threshold for 2026 was reached by mid-August.
"If more resources need to be invested, vaccination campaigns expanded, and more active measures taken, it must be done now. This is a deadly disease; we must not reach a situation again where a person loses their life to rabies, as in the tragic case of 2024," he concluded.
