WEST NILE VIRUS - ISRAEL

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A ProMED-mail post

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Date: Mon 2 Aug 2010
Source: Haaretz [edited]



West Nile fever is spreading in Israel, although the number of cases
remains low. 12 cases of the disease, which generally surfaces in the
summer, have been confirmed and another 12 patients are thought to be
suffering from the illness. The disease is spread to humans by
mosquitoes, which are infected with the virus by birds. Incidence of
the fever has been centered in the Tel Aviv area.

West Nile causes flu-like symptoms, headaches, rashes, and
conjunctivitis, and in 8 percent of cases meningitis, which can
affect the nervous system and even cause death. An 87-year-old woman
from Ramat Efal who had a history of heart and metabolic conditions
died of West Nile fever [virus infection] this summer [2010]. 2
patients remain hospitalized with symptoms of meningitis. Most of
those affected are over 65 or are suffering from chronic illness. The
largest recent outbreak in Israel occurred in 2000 when more than 400
caught the fever and 29 people died of it.

The Health Ministry recommends taking measures to avoid contact with
mosquitoes, including wearing long sleeves, using window screens,
using mosquito repellent, and eliminating standing water where
mosquitoes breed.

[Byline: Dan Even]

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Communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-mail


[West Nile virus has been identified previously in clinical human and
equine cases and in mosquitoes and birds in Israel.

A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Israel can be accessed at
. - Mod.TY]

[see also:
2007
---
West Nile virus, equine - Israel 20070925.3176
West Nile virus - Israel (North District) (02) 20070914.3054
West Nile virus - Israel (North District) 20070907.2956
2005
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West Nile virus, human - Israel 20050731.2228
West Nile virus, birds, migratory - Israel (02) 20050205.0391
West Nile virus, birds, migratory - Israel 20050203.0377
2003
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West Nile virus, human - Israel 20030712.1712
2002
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West Nile virus, human - Israel (03) 20021021.5616
West Nile virus, human - Israel (02) 20020924.5389
West Nile virus, human - Israel 20020816.5065
West Nile virus, mosquitoes - Israel (04) 20020801.4910
West Nile virus, mosquitoes - Israel (03) 20020719.4796
West Nile virus, mosquitoes - Israel (02) 20020520.4276
West Nile virus, mosquitoes - Israel 20020516.4234
2001
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West Nile virus, human - Israel 20010802.1510
2000
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West Nile virus, human cases - Israel (08) 20000927.1667
West Nile virus, human case - Israel 20000901.1469
1999
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West Nile virus, geese - Israel (02) 19991208.2132
West Nile virus, geese - Israel 19991123.2076]
...................................ty/mj/mpp

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