Five older residents of northern Tel Aviv have recently been hospitalized at Ichilov Hospital due to West Nile fever. Three of them are in critical condition and are being treated in the intensive care unit. Dr. Yevgeni Katzman, an infectious disease specialist at Ichilov, highlighted the importance of warning the public about the outbreak. He noted that the patients are healthy and active individuals in their seventies who live in the Ramat Hay’il, Shikon Dan, and Tzahala areas.
According to Dr. Katzman, West Nile fever can be particularly dangerous for older individuals as it can cause significant damage leading to confusion, neurological symptoms, and cognitive impairments. The disease is caused by a virus that resides in birds and is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites. It has been present in Israel for many years, with peak waves occurring during the summer months. Since 2001, dozens of cases have been reported each year, mainly affecting individuals in their forties and older. Infected mosquitoes are commonly found in areas such as Sharon, Hadera, Pardes Hana-Karkur, and Caesarea, with cases reported throughout the country.
Symptoms of West Nile fever include fever, headache, weakness, joint and muscle pain, conjunctivitis
