770 measles cases detected in Israel in past three months, says Health Ministry

The Health Ministry reports that 770 people in Israel have been diagnosed with measles over the past three months, of whom 228 are active patients and 24 of whom are hospitalized — two in intensive care.

Most of those hospitalized are children who were not vaccinated against the disease. Two toddlers without underlying diseases who were not vaccinated against the disease died of measles in mid-August.

The ministry also says that a measles patient traveled by public transportation during the contagious period of the disease.

On August 25, the patient took bus line 465 from Emmanuel to Jerusalem at 11:30 a.m. and later took bus lines 65 and 39 within Jerusalem, before taking the 465 back to Emmanuel at midnight.

Since this is a highly contagious disease, the ministry asks individuals who may have come in contact with the patient to ensure they are vaccinated in accordance with recommendations. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that manifests itself in fever, general malaise, runny nose and rash, and can have serious and even life-threatening complications.