Health and Environmental Protection: First case of West Nile fever in the summer of 2026

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environmental Protection announced today (Thursday) that a Tel Aviv resident has been diagnosed with West Nile fever.

This is the first case of a confirmed patient with the disease in Israel during the summer season of 2026.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection has instructed the relevant local authority to increase prevention, monitoring, eradication, and public awareness efforts.

Prof. Sigal Sadetzky, head of the Public Health Division at the Ministry of Health: "West Nile fever is a disease transmitted to humans through the bite of mosquitoes that feed on infected birds. It is usually a mild disease without symptoms, but in exceptional cases, serious symptoms such as encephalitis or meningitis may also occur."'

Dr. Shai Reicher, Director of the Pest and Pest Control Division at the Ministry of Environmental Protection: "The Ministry of Environmental Protection conducts continuous and ongoing monitoring throughout the country throughout the year, with an emphasis on the mosquito activity season. Based on the findings, the ministry guides the relevant local authorities to increase prevention, monitoring and pest control activities. Alongside this activity, the public has an important role in reducing the risk - drying up stagnant water sources and using protection against bites are simple and effective steps that can prevent mosquito breeding and reduce the risk of exposure to the virus.""

As every year, from the beginning of June until the end of November, there is an expected increase in the prevalence of mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus. Therefore, the pest and extermination team at the Ministry of Environmental Protection conducts thousands of mosquito larval monitoring and hundreds of adult mosquito captures throughout the year.

The mosquitoes are being transferred to the Ministry of Health laboratories for identification and testing. So far, since the beginning of the season, no mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus have been found.

In the summer, due to standing water and hot, humid weather, the risk of mosquito breeding increases. The responsibility for removing hazards and nuisances caused by sanitary pests in public areas lies with the local authority. However, the public is asked to assist in the effort in accordance with the following guidelines:

• Dry and drain sources of standing water, such as buckets, flowerpots, old tires, gutters, ornamental ponds, barrels, and any container that may collect water.
• Use mosquito repellents, install screens on windows and doors, and wear long, light-colored clothing when outside the home - during the hours of darkness.
• Turn on fans in the house and in open areas, directed at the place of residence and preventing mosquitoes from having easy access to exposed skin.
• Report mosquito infestations or sources of standing water in public spaces to the local authority's *106 hotline.

The ministries emphasize that updating the local authority from residents is critical to allowing the local authority to focus efforts and remove the hazard quickly and effectively.

""The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environmental Protection will continue to monitor the disease and conduct ongoing monitoring throughout the country, and will update the public as necessary," the ministries said in a statement.