Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Nov 24: An 18-month-old boy has died from measles, bringing the death toll in Israel’s ongoing outbreak to 10, the Health Ministry reported. Most victims have been previously healthy, unvaccinated infants.

The child was admitted to Tzafon Medical Centre near Tiberias in critical condition early Sunday and passed away despite resuscitation efforts. Over 2,000 measles cases have been confirmed in the outbreak that began in early April. Currently, 11 patients are hospitalised, including two in intensive care.

The ministry urged parents to vaccinate their children promptly and to seek medical attention if symptoms appear or exposure is suspected. Twelve cities and several other localities have been designated as outbreak zones, with additional vaccinations recommended for infants in these areas.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease, primarily affecting children, with symptoms including fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a widespread rash. Complications can be severe, sometimes resulting in death. Vaccination remains the most effective prevention method.

Historically, before the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963, major epidemics occurred every two to three years, causing an estimated 2.6 million deaths annually. Despite vaccines, measles still claimed an estimated 107,500 lives in 2023, mostly children under five.

Symptoms typically appear 10–14 days after exposure, starting with fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and small white spots inside the cheeks. The characteristic rash usually begins on the face and upper neck 7–18 days after exposure and spreads over the body, lasting 5–6 days.