Cases of flu and RSV on the rise in Israel, warns Health Ministry

By Diana Bletter

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24 December 2024, 5:45 pm 5 Edit

Reporter at The Times of Israel

The Sammy Ofer Fortified Underground Emergency Hospital at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, August 1, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

The number of patients diagnosed with respiratory illnesses is on the rise, the Health Ministry says, including 77 new cases of influenza.

There are also 240 new cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common illness that affects the lungs. There is also a sharp increase in the percentage of pediatric emergency room visits among infants under two due to bronchiolitis. This condition occurs more often during the winter.

The Health Ministry urges individuals to get vaccinated against the flu and to practice good hygiene, as respiratory illnesses can spread easily.