The Media Line: Israel Reports Surge in Measles Cases Since April Outbreak  

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Israel Reports Surge in Measles Cases Since April Outbreak  

By The Media Line Staff 

Israel’s Health Ministry announced Monday that 481 new measles cases have been confirmed, raising the total number of infections to 1,251 since the outbreak began in early April. Officials warned that the actual figure is likely higher, estimating between 2,250 and 3,950 cases based on hospitalization trends and community reports.  

Twenty-nine patients remain in hospitals, most of whom are children under six years old. Five are in intensive care, including one receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, a life-support treatment. The outbreak has so far claimed the lives of two unvaccinated boys, ages 18 months and two years.  

The ministry initiated a nationwide vaccination drive in May, approximately a month after the first cases were reported. More than 142,000 doses have been administered since then. In areas with active outbreaks, health authorities have allowed walk-in vaccinations without appointments, in an effort to extend access to infants from other regions who are staying with family or friends in affected cities.  

Measles, a highly contagious viral disease, spreads through coughing and sneezing and can remain airborne for hours. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, a runny nose, and a rash. While most recover without complications, the virus can cause pneumonia, brain swelling, or death, particularly in unvaccinated children.  

Israel has experienced periodic measles outbreaks in recent years, often attributed to gaps in vaccination coverage. The World Health Organization has repeatedly urged countries to maintain high immunization rates, stressing that outbreaks can occur quickly when vaccination levels drop below 95%.