Surge in flu cases triggers emergency meeting at Israel’s Health Ministry
Israel’s epidemic-response team convened an emergency meeting overnight due to a steep surge in flu cases. In recent weeks, at least 30 children and infants have been hospitalized in intensive care units with severe flu complications. On Sunday alone, two infants in Jerusalem were admitted in critical condition, and another in Haifa was placed on an ECMO machine.
Health Ministry experts recommended increasing vaccination efforts, encouraging mask use in medical and public settings, and reinforcing public guidance not to go to work or send children to school when sick. Nearly half of hospitalized children are testing positive for influenza, and three children have died from flu complications in the past two weeks — compared to four deaths in the entire flu season last year. Officials warn the peak has not yet arrived.
The ministry is also concerned about low vaccination rates, including among high-risk groups: less than half of Israelis aged 65+ are vaccinated, and fewer than 10% of children. The Health Ministry plans to intensify vaccination messaging.
Kan.org.il is the Hebrew news website of the The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation
