West Nile fever continues to spread in Israel, with at least 25 residents hospitalized in the past month. Most of them are elderly individuals in their seventh decade. Some of them have been ventilated in intensive care units, while others have been released to their homes. The doctors in Israel have not encountered such a massive wave of morbidity from the disease, which is usually mild but may deteriorate into a life-threatening condition in the elderly.
The Ichilov Hospital has reported one person who is hospitalized, ventilated, and sedated, with a serious condition. Another person was weaned from anesthesia and breathing, and his condition is moderate. Two more patients are also in moderate condition at Ichilov Hospital, while the rest were released to their homes. Sheba Medical Center has several patients hospitalized, some of whom are ventilated and sedated in a serious condition. One patient was treated at Meir Hospital and released to his home. According to estimates by the Ministry of Health, there may be other patients who were infected but did not seek medical attention.
West Nile fever has been widespread in Israel for many years and tends to occur during peak waves during the summer months. The first documentation of West Nile fever as an outbreak was recorded in Israel between 1950-1954 and another outbreak occurred in 1957. In the 1970s and 1980s increased activity of the virus was recorded again. Every year several dozen patients are reported in Israel, mostly over the age of 40. This year’s wave of morbidity is very high and according to forecasts it will only get worse.
The infected mosquitoes are mainly found in areas such as Sharon, Hadera, Pardes Hana-Karkur, Binyamina and Caesarea but cases have also been reported throughout the country from north to south including North Tel Aviv
