Israel confirms first West Nile fever case of 2026 summer in Tel Aviv

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel's Health Ministry and Environmental Protection Ministry announced on Monday that a Tel Aviv resident has been diagnosed with West Nile fever, the first confirmed case of the 2026 summer season. The ministries said local authorities have been instructed to step up vector control, mosquito management and public awareness efforts. The Health Ministry said routine seasonal laboratory testing has not yet detected any mosquitoes carrying the virus in the Tel Aviv area. Officials cautioned that the patient's Tel Aviv residence does not necessarily mean infection occurred there, as the bite may have taken place elsewhere and symptoms could have developed later. Prof. Sigal Sadetzki, head of the ministry's Public Health Division, said the virus is transmitted primarily through bites from female mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds, and not directly between humans. She added that the illness is usually mild or asymptomatic but can lead to serious complications such as encephalitis and meningitis in older people and those with weakened immune systems. Fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, rash and nausea were listed as common symptoms.