Measles Outbreak Worsens in Isr@el 8 Infants Dead, Thousands Infected as Virus Spreads Across 9 Cities

‘Isr@el’ is facing a rapidly escalating measles outbreak that has already claimed the lives of eight infants, with health authorities struggling to curb the spread of the highly contagious virus now affecting nine settlements nationwide, according to Hebrew media reports.

The latest victim, a two-year-old girl, passed away at Hadassah-University Medical Center in Ein Kerem after battling severe complications from the infection for ten days. Her death marks the eighth fatality since the outbreak began in April.

Officials from the Ministry of Health (MoH) confirmed that all eight children who succumbed to the disease were unvaccinated and under two and a half years old. Health experts have repeatedly emphasized that the lack of vaccination remains the biggest factor driving the current crisis.

Initially concentrated in areas with low vaccination rates such as Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, and Bnei Brak, the outbreak has now spread across several regions, signaling a serious public health challenge.

According to official statistics, more than 1,700 measles cases have been confirmed so far. However, health authorities estimate the actual number of infections could exceed 5,000 due to underreporting and undiagnosed cases.

“We know that many infections are going unrecorded, and the real number of patients is likely in the thousands,” said Sharon Alroy-Preis, Isr@el’s chief epidemiologist.

Hospitals across the country are under mounting pressure, with 468 patients currently admitted for treatment — the vast majority of them children. Medical staff have warned that the surge in pediatric cases is straining healthcare facilities already dealing with high patient volumes.

Health authorities continue to urge parents to vaccinate their children and follow preventive guidelines to stop further spread of the disease.