Health Ministry: 68 people diagnosed with West Nile virus have died since June

Reporter at The Times of Israel

Illustrative: Mosquitoes cling to the inside of a jar loaded with repellent during a test as part of a tour of the Centers for Disease Control laboratory, April 4, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colorado. (David Zalubowski/AP)
Illustrative: Mosquitoes cling to the inside of a jar loaded with repellent during a test as part of a tour of the Centers for Disease Control laboratory, April 4, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colorado. (David Zalubowski/AP)

The Health Ministry says that the number of patients diagnosed with the West Nile virus has risen to 899 as of today.

A total of 68 people who were diagnosed with the virus have died since the outbreak began in June.

Infected mosquitoes transmit the West Nile virus to humans. The virus does not spread from person to person.

About 80 percent of people infected with West Nile virus show no symptoms at all. About 20% may experience varying degrees of symptoms, including fever, headaches, and body aches.

Less than 1% of those infected will have possible rare complications such as acute inflammation of the brain or meningitis.

The risk of significant illness is higher among the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

The ministry recommends using mosquito repellent products and devices to repel mosquitoes in living areas.

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