The first death from West Nile virus has been reported in Israel.

According to the KAN 11 News evening report on Wednesday, 12 Elul, a 70-year-old man was niftar in Assuta Hospital in Ashdod. Hospital officials report he was niftar about 3.5 weeks earlier, from West Nile virus. The case was reported to the Health Ministry.

The spread of the virus seems more aggressive than in past years. Health officials on Wednesday reported an 18-year-old male in very serious condition in Beersheva’s Soroka Medical Center, adding there have already been 48 people hospitalized, confirmed with the illness, while an additional 20 appear to have it but they await the results of tests to make the final determination.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)