Tel Aviv resident diagnosed with West Nile fever, first case in summer 2026, Health Ministry says

Israel has recorded its first case of West Nile fever for the summer of 2026, with a Tel Aviv resident diagnosed with the illness. The Health Ministry and the Environmental Protection Ministry announced the diagnosis, prompting local authorities to intensify prevention, monitoring, and pest control efforts.

Despite the confirmed human case, tests conducted since the start of the season have not yet identified any female mosquitoes carrying the virus. The ministries did not release details about the patient's age, medical condition, or the location where they were likely bitten, noting that infection could have occurred outside of Tel Aviv.

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West Nile fever is a disease transmitted to humans through the bites of female mosquitoes that feed on infected birds.

West Nile fever is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female mosquito that has previously fed on an infected bird. The virus's main transmission cycle involves birds and mosquitoes, with humans and other animals typically becoming infected after a mosquito bite. Human-to-human transmission is not common.

While most infections are asymptomatic, the disease can, in rare cases, cause severe symptoms such as inflammation of the brain or its surrounding membranes. Symptoms can include fever, headaches, weakness, muscle and joint pain, nausea, or diarrhea. In severe instances, neurological damage like meningitis or encephalitis may occur, with older adults and those with compromised immune systems being at higher risk. Favorable environmental conditions, including heat, humidity, and standing water, are contributing to increased mosquito populations conducive to virus spread.

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In most cases, it is a mild disease without symptoms, but in exceptional cases, severe symptoms such as inflammation of the brain or the membranes surrounding the brain may also appear.