This Wednesday, Israeli authorities announced that mosquitoes infected with the virus were found. virus of West Nile in the country. This is the first time this has happened this year.
The mosquitoes were reportedly found in Yeruham, a city in southern Israel, and near the Ramat Negev Regional Council. More specifically, the Ministry of Environmental Protection confirmed that the infected mosquitoes were in Nahal Revivim, a park in the vicinity of Lake Yeruham.
Following the discovery, national authorities asked the local government to first closely follow the case. Infection control and prevention measures will be taken if necessary.
Although in most cases people who contract this virus usually have a flu-like illness and recover within a week, some cases can be fatal. According to Ministry of Health records, in August 2022 one person died from West Nile virus in Israel.
Experts indicate that this new appearance may be due to heavy rains in the south of the country, followed by a period of high temperatures. This combination creates a climate conducive to the appearance of mosquitoes.
The authorities indicated that it is best to use repellent and also mosquito nets. In addition, it is necessary to ensure that there are no containers with stagnant water in homes.