According to reports in the Israeli media, numerous tourist locations in the Golan and upper Galilee that are popular water spots have been contaminated. Numerous travelers to the area have come down with a disease known as Leptospirosis. The disease is caused by contracting a bacteria known as Leptospira that is cork-screw in shape. Signs and symptoms range from none to mild such as headaches, muscle pains, and fevers. In severe cases the bacteria can cause bleeding from the lungs or meningitis.

Health officials report on Monday, 2 Elul, that close to 30 persons are showing signs of the illness, with about half hospitalized.

According to the health alert, anyone who was in the Zaki, Yehudiya, Zutein or Meshushim nachals from the first of July this year, and took ill in recent weeks, should see his/her family physician and explain the circumstances and concerns. The alert pertains to persons with a temperature over 39C (100.4F).

Health officials were monitoring the illness earlier in the week, but it appears the matter has taken a turn for the worse and the Health Ministry is now exhibiting a more aggressive attitude regarding its travel warning and health alert.

Being that the disease is often spread by rodents or their urine or soil infected by their urine, the illness in Hebrew is commonly referred to as Akberet (עכברת) with akbar (עכבר) being the word for a rat/rodent.

Dr. Shimon Edelstein, a consultant for contractible diseases at Ziv hospital said: “Leptospirosis is a condition that exists all over the world and is caused by bacteria most commonly found in the urine of rats and mice. Humans or other animals exposed to a body of water which has been contaminated by a carrier rodent will often contract the disease themselves. Symptoms can arise in humans anywhere between 3-10 days after exposure to a polluted body of water. “Treatment consists of antibiotics that need to be taken as quickly as possible.”