Five adults from North Tel Aviv have contracted West Nile Fever in the past two weeks, with two hospitalized in serious condition at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center.
All patients are over 60 years old and live in Ramat HaHayal, Shikun Dan, and HaMishtala neighborhoods in North Tel Aviv. They are not related but reside in close proximity.
More people were likely exposed to the virus, but younger people experience milder symptoms and do not often require hospitalization.
Shiri, the daughter of a 77-year-old man with West Nile Fever, shared that her father developed meningitis from the illness and is in serious condition. "Three and a half weeks ago, my father started feeling unwell. After four days of fever, we went to the hospital. He was discharged but deteriorated after two days, becoming weak and unable to walk. By Thursday, he was hospitalized, and by Saturday, he was sedated and ventilated for eight days. He remains paralyzed and unable to move. His condition is very serious. He doesn’t remember being bitten and has no recollection of the past weeks. The fever wiped everything out."
What's next? "The doctors don't know if or how he will recover. Three days ago, we were told his condition was very serious. We can't plan more than six hours ahead because we don’t know if he’ll be able to breathe on his own. He can’t walk, or move his hands, his speech is impaired, and his memory is affected. He’s in critical condition at Ichilov, and the length of his recovery is unknown. The city needs to take action and spray the area. We need to feel safe in our neighborhoods."
Incubation of the disease lasts up to three weeks
The incubation period of the disease can last up to three weeks. West Nile Fever is an animal-borne illness that can be transmitted to humans. It is caused by a virus primarily found in birds and transmitted to humans and other animals through mosquito bites from infected birds. The incubation period from the bite to the onset of symptoms ranges from 5 to 21 days, with the illness typically lasting 3 to 6 days. Most cases are mild, resembling the flu, and resolve on their own. Symptoms include fever, headache, weakness, joint and muscle pain, conjunctivitis, rash, and occasionally nausea and diarrhea. Rare complications can include acute encephalitis or meningitis, and in very rare cases, the disease can be fatal.
To avoid mosquito bites and breeding sites, the Health Ministry and the Environmental Protection Ministry advise the public to reduce standing water sources that can serve as mosquito breeding grounds. About ten days ago, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environmental Protection announced that West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes were found in the South Sharon Regional Council. The council was instructed to increase monitoring in affected areas and take immediate prevention and control measures if necessary. During this time of year, standing water sources, combined with hot and humid weather, can create fertile breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Dr. Oren Shattach Catabi, Director of the Zoonotic Diseases Department at the Health Ministry, explained the process of monitoring and identifying infected mosquitoes: "Once the Environmental Protection Ministry captures mosquitoes, the Health Ministry's entomology lab classifies the mosquitoes and sends them to the virology lab to test for disease agents. The Epidemiology Division compiles data on human and mosquito infections and alerts relevant authorities whenever a human case is diagnosed. Based on data from previous years, the incidence of the disease tends to increase from June onwards."