Jerusalem, 19 August, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Health report the Capture of female mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus in the Petah Tikva area, Kafr Qasim, Kafr Bara, the Ben Gurion Airport area, and the Brenner and Middle Arava regional councils.
Since the start of the West Nile fever season, 17 people have been diagnosed with the disease. One patient remains hospitalized, and one person has died. Most of the patients experienced symptoms typical of the disease, including fever, rash, and altered consciousness.
In summer, the risk of mosquito breeding increases due to stagnant water and hot, humid weather. The public is asked to help reduce the risk by draining and eliminating sources of stagnant water, such as buckets, plant saucers, and gutters; using a mosquito repellent; installing screens on windows and openings; wearing long, light-colored clothing; using a fan indoors as well as in open areas; and reporting mosquito hazards or sources of stagnant water in public areas to the local municipality’s 106 hotline.