Case of measles found in Tel Aviv area as virus resurges globally
Individual arrived in Israel on a flight from London on Friday, spent time in Herzliya and near Tel Aviv University; ministry recommends checking vaccine status
The Health Ministry warned Monday that a person has been diagnosed with the measles in the Tel Aviv area, as the virus — which was once considered near-eradicated in many Western countries — has been making a comeback.
According to the ministry, the person in question arrived on an overnight El Al flight Friday morning from London, took the train to the Tel Aviv University stop and a bus to nearby Tagore Street. On Saturday they spent time at an escape room in Petah Tikva and a restaurant in Herzliya.
The ministry warned anyone who may have come in contact with the individual to ensure that they are fully vaccinated for measles.
While measles cases is Israel are rare, the disease has not been considered eliminated in the country, and there have been multiple recorded deaths related to the virus in recent years.
An 18-month-old toddler died of measles in Jerusalem in 2018 during a spike in cases. The girl, who had not been vaccinated, was Israel’s first recorded measles fatality in 15 years.
The outbreak in 2018 and 2019 infected over 4,000 people, most of whom were unvaccinated.
The Health Ministry said at the time that full vaccination was 97% effective at preventing the disease, and that measles could leave lasting damage and was fatal for one out of every 1,000 infected children.
In 2019, a 43-year-old Israeli flight attendant died of complications related to the disease after contracting measles on a flight. Blood tests showed she had been vaccinated with one dose, but not a second recommended inoculation.
In the US, where the disease has been considered eliminated since 2000, there has been a recent jump in cases as well as several fatalities.
The US had 800 cases of measles nationwide as of Friday, and two more states identified outbreaks over the past week.
Texas is driving the high numbers, with an outbreak centered in West Texas that started nearly three months ago and is up to 597 cases. Two unvaccinated elementary school-aged children died from measles-related illnesses near the epicenter in Texas, and an adult in New Mexico who was not vaccinated died of a measles-related illness.
Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It manifests itself in fever, general malaise, runny nose, and rash, and can have serious and even life-threatening complications, said the Health Ministry in a Monday statement.
Anyone who suspects they have contracted measles or is suffering from these symptoms should alert the clinic or emergency room before arrival. They should also avoid being in public spaces like shopping malls, buses, and trains.
It is preventable through vaccines, and the Health Ministry recommends all citizens check their immunization status to see if they are protected from the disease.
The Times of Israel Community.