Israeli health authorities said 11 people have so far died of the infectious West Nile virus disease.
According to the Israeli ministry, 153 patients have been diagnosed with West Nile fever in an ongoing outbreak. Most of the patients are from the country's central region.
Israel's Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environmental Protection announced the detection of mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, which includes major cities like Tel Aviv, Herzliya, Petah Tikva, and Kiryat Ono. Infected mosquitoes were also identified in villages near Netanya, the Red Sea resort city of Eilat, and Hevel Eilot Regional Council in southern Israel.
The authorities also urged local officials to intensify mosquito monitoring and extermination efforts, stressing the importance of public awareness and preventative measures.
The virus is transmitted to humans through mosquitoes that feed on infected birds. Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, and body aches, nausea and vomiting.
