Rise In West Nile Fever Cases Sees Patients Receiving Treatment at Sheba Medical Centre
The virus spreads via mosquito bites, though the majority of those infected do not show any symptoms.
In the past month, Israel has seen dozens of West Nile fever cases. The disease is transmitted through mosquito bites. A number of those affected have been treated at the Sheba Medical Center. While some have been able to go home, others remain in hospital with serious conditions.
Prof. Eyal Leshem, an expert in infectious diseases and director of the Center for Travel Medicine and Tropical Diseases at Sheba Medical Center, explains that "the season in which West Nile fever cases proliferate begins in June, peaks during the summer months – July-August, and ends in November." Typically, Israel sees around 70 cases per season. During severe outbreaks, this number can exceed 100, with a record 400 cases in the early 2000s. This year, by June, dozens of cases have already been reported, sparking fears of a higher morbidity rate than usual.
"The Ministry of Health is working closely with the Ministry of Environmental Protection to monitor the disease and stop it from spreading. We hope these measures, along with educating the public about the disease and how to prevent it, will cut down the number of cases", says Prof. Eyal Leshem.
