Hebrew media have warned of the spread of West Nile fever in Israel following the infection of five residents in Tel Aviv, two of whom are in critical condition and remain in the intensive care unit. The Israeli Broadcasting Authority "Kan" reported that three patients, two of whom are in serious condition and suffering from neurological damage, were hospitalized due to West Nile fever. As of Monday, five cases have been admitted to "Ichilov" Hospital in Tel Aviv over the past two weeks, with the patients being 60 years old or older, residing in northern Tel Aviv.
The report added: "The hospital suspects the presence of infected mosquitoes in the area that need to be eradicated. These cases are considered exceptional and have not been recorded before in hospitals in Israel. The patients who contracted the disease are otherwise healthy, with no prior chronic illnesses. The fever often affects the elderly more severely, and its deterioration can lead to neurological damage. Last week, two patients aged 40 and 60 from Ramat Gan and Givatayim, who were also infected with West Nile fever, were treated and discharged from Sheba Hospital."
Dr. Yevgeny Katzman, a specialist in internal medicine and infectious diseases at "Ichilov" Hospital, stated: "In all my years as a physician, I have never seen this many patients arriving at the hospital due to this disease. In most cases, patients report relatively mild symptoms such as fever or headache, but after a few days, the condition can worsen and lead to confusion and neurological symptoms, manifesting for example as confusion or impaired comprehension."
About two weeks ago, the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection announced the detection of infected mosquitoes in the western region of the South Sharon regional council. In response, the ministry stated: "So far, no infected mosquitoes have been discovered in the Tel Aviv area. The Tel Aviv municipality has conducted inspections near the areas where the patients live, identifying several sites with stagnant water sources where mosquito larvae were found, which have since been drained."
