Unvaccinated 9-year-old dies of measles, as outbreak mounts in Haredi communities

Boy pronounced dead after being brought to hospital in critical condition; Health Ministry: ‘The vaccine saves lives’

By Diana Bletter

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14 February 2026, 6:37 am 5

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Reporter at The Times of Israel

A notice warning of measles is seen on a door in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim in Jerusalem, July 31, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

A 9-year-old boy, who was unvaccinated and had no underlying conditions, died of measles Friday, the Health Ministry announced, marking the 15th fatality in a months-long outbreak that has swept through ultra-Orthodox communities and areas with low immunization rates.

Most of the victims have been healthy children with no underlying conditions who were not vaccinated against measles.

The boy came from a moshav in central Israel and arrived in critical condition at an unnamed hospital, according to Ynet.
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“The ministry again notes that measles is a disease that is preventable with effective and safe vaccination. The vaccine saves lives,” the Health Ministry said in a statement.

It also stressed that “arriving [to the hospital] on time saves lives” if symptoms are identified.

The ongoing measles outbreak is the worst in the country since 2018-2019, though the current epidemic has seen significantly more deaths, indicating that the disease is reaching more vulnerable populations and that sick babies may not be getting medical care in time.