The measles outbreak in Israel has escalated with the tragic death of a seven-year-old Jerusalem child. It was the ninth fatality since the start of the ongoing health crisis.
The child, who had an underlying medical condition and received only one dose of the measles vaccine, passed away on Sunday upon arriving at the emergency room due to complications from the highly contagious disease, the Health Ministry reported.
The eight previous measles fatalities were healthy, unvaccinated infants, it said.
The Health Ministry reiterated the importance of timely medical intervention and vaccination, emphasizing that “timely arrival saves lives.”
Currently, the health system is caring for 16 hospitalized measles patients nationwide, the Health Ministry reported, adding that eight of them are in intensive care with severe complications.
Health Ministry urges immediate action
As measles cases increase, doctors around the country are appealing to the public to vaccinate their children. They say the vaccine is safe.
“The measles vaccine is safe,” according to Dr. Jacques Brown, director of the pediatric intensive-care unit at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. “It is an established vaccine that has been given for more than 60 years, both in Israel and worldwide.”
Measles is a preventable disease, given the availability of a safe and effective vaccine, the Health Ministry said. Efforts to boost immunization rates have yielded results, with vaccination coverage for the first dose among children ages one to six increasing, it said.
In Jerusalem, the vaccination rate was 77%-84% during October, up 500% compared with September, the Health Ministry reported.
In Beit Shemesh, the rate was 72%-82.6% in October, up 630% compared with September, it said.
The Health Ministry has designated several areas as active outbreak zones. It has advised unvaccinated individuals and parents of six- to 11-month-old infants with only one dose to avoid crowded events in these cities due to the high risk of infection.
Outbreak zones and vaccination guidelines
The cities considered active breakout zones are Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Bnei Brak, Harish, Modi’in Illit, Nof Hagalil, Kiryat Gat, Ashdod, Safed, Netivot, Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, and Tekoa.
The standard recommendation remains vaccination at ages one and six. Due to the current crisis, however, the ministry has advised that the second dose be advanced to age 18 months in outbreak zones.
Shaare Zedek doctors have advised parents to be aware of high fever, cough, red eyes, and a widespread rash, and contact a pediatrician immediately if any of these symptoms occur.
Furthermore, it is essential to provide an additional vaccine for infants ages six to 11 months in outbreak areas or when traveling to those areas, the doctors said.
Vaccines are readily available at Tipat Halav (Well Baby Clinics), health clinics, and temporary vaccination stations, often without an appointment.