Health Ministry warns public that two people infected with measles used public transport

The Health Ministry on Tuesday warned the public that two people infected with measles had used public transport last week and urged anyone who may have crossed paths with them to check if they are vaccinated amid a deadly outbreak of the disease.

The ministry published the movements of two, noting that they took a bus from Petah Tikva to Bnei Brak at 7:16 a.m., and then returned from Bnei Brak to Petah Tikva at 2:45 p.m. on October 28 and October 29.

Also, on October 29, one of the patients was in an event hall in Jerusalem, 6 Dover Shalom Street, starting at 7 p.m.

On October 30, the infected pair traveled by bus from Jerusalem to Bnei Brak at midnight, then to Petah Tikva. At 9 a.m., they took another bus to Tel Aviv, followed by a 1:15 p.m. train to Herzliya.

Passengers who were in those places were asked to ensure that they are vaccinated in accordance with the ministry’s recommendations.

“Measles is a disease that can be prevented via effective and safe vaccination,” the ministry said in its statement.

The ministry noted that individuals can update their personal vaccination status via the government digital vaccination register.

Doctors have urged ramped-up vaccination drives in response to the current outbreak.

The current outbreak, which began in May, is active throughout the country.

At least eight children have died since the start of the outbreak. All were healthy individuals, younger than two and a half, with no underlying diseases, and who had not received the measles vaccine.

They were the first fatalities from measles in Israel since a previous outbreak hit the country in 2018-2019. The fatalities in that bout of measles were the first Israel had seen since 2003.

The areas currently defined as having an outbreak are Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Bnei Brak, Harish, Modiin Illit, Nof Hagalil, Kiryat Gat, Ashdod, Safed, Netivot and the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council.

Since the outbreak, there have been over 1,600 recorded cases of measles and over 570 hospitalizations. Following the ministry’s efforts to increase vaccination coverage, there has been a 500 percent increase in vaccinations in Jerusalem and an even higher increase of 630% in Beit Shemesh since September, compared to the same period last year, according to earlier ministry figures.

Measles is a highly contagious, life-threatening viral disease. When symptoms appear, it is important to inform medical teams to allow treatment.