Early rise of West Nile fever in Israel, June 2024

Euro Surveill. 2024 Jul;29(30):2400457. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.30.2400457.

Abstract

This report describes an unusual surge of West Nile fever in Israel in June 2024, during which 125 cases were diagnosed, compared with 4 cases on average during June in previous years (2014-23). Of the cases, 64 (62.1%) had neuroinvasive disease and 12 (9.6%) died; the 2024 case fatality rate was not significantly elevated vs the average rate in 2014-23. The early rise could be related to a temperature increase in spring and early summer of 2024.

Keywords: Avian; Israel; Migratory birds; Mosquitoes; Neuroinvasive disease; One Health; West Nile fever; West Nile virus.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Israel / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Population Surveillance
  • Seasons*
  • West Nile Fever* / diagnosis
  • West Nile Fever* / epidemiology
  • West Nile Fever* / mortality
  • West Nile virus* / isolation & purification