Jerusalem, 10 November, 2026 (TPS-IL) — A 61-year-old woman with no known underlying medical conditions is in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba after developing severe complications from influenza A. The woman had not been vaccinated against the flu.
She arrived at the hospital three days ago after suffering five days of high fever and severe shortness of breath at home. Doctors initially sedated and ventilated her, but her condition deteriorated further, requiring connection to an ECMO machine, which provides external support for patients with severe respiratory failure.
Dr. Michal Katzir, head of Meir’s infectious diseases unit, said the patient remains in critical condition.
Hospital officials urged the public to get vaccinated, warning that influenza can cause life-threatening complications even in otherwise healthy people. They stressed that vaccination is the primary defense against severe illness.
