So far this year, 150 Israelis have been infected with West Nile virus, many have been hospitalized, and there have been a dozen fatalities.
The West Nile Virus is infecting Israelis at rates not seen since 2000, and global warming may be blamed for the rise in cases.
Dr. Yael Paran said, “We see many more patients with West Nile virus, numbers unprecedented until now.”
She continued, “We are seeing the numbers we normally see in a year in one month, and it is only June—much earlier than usual.”
The virus lives in animals, mainly birds, and mosquitos, and is transferred to humans by mosquito bites.
In 80% of cases, sufferers experience flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, chills, and nausea that go away on their own.
However, many cases are severe and 1% of cases include neurological signs corresponding to meningitis, acute encephalitis, or acute flaccid paralysis.
There are several theories explaining why there are more cases of West Nile virus than in previous years, but the onset of extremely hot weather in June and July is considered a factor.
