Jerusalem, Aug 29 (IANS) — Israel’s Health Ministry has confirmed 152 new measles cases, bringing the total since the outbreak began in early April to 770.
Officials estimate the true number of infections could be between 1,550 and 2,750, citing hospitalisation data and community reports. Currently, 228 patients are actively diagnosed, with 24 hospitalised — most of them children under six. Two patients remain in intensive care, including one on ECMO support.
The outbreak has so far claimed the lives of two unvaccinated boys, aged 18 months and two years.
In May, about a month after the outbreak began, the ministry launched a nationwide vaccination campaign. More than 115,000 doses have since been administered, Xinhua news agency reported.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads through the respiratory tract. Common symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, inflamed eyes, and a characteristic rash that usually begins on the face and neck before spreading across the body.
While the illness can lead to severe complications and even death, it is preventable through vaccination. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that immunisation prevented 60 million deaths between 2000 and 2023, with global measles deaths dropping from 800,000 in 2000 to about 107,500 in 2023 — most among children under five.
Despite this progress, measles remains common in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, where weaker health systems often limit vaccine access.
