Barzilai pediatric ward closed to new patients amid virus outbreak

The virus in question is one that is usually vaccinated against in winter, but broke out this year in the summer. The children are suffering from severe respiratory disease that requires 10 days of hospitalization with oxygen. Due to the outbreak, some of the children are in the hallways of the hospital.

Former Health Ministry director-general Hezi Levy stated on Thursday that health officials have noticed an outbreak of uncharacteristic fever and respiratory diseases across Israel in the last two months. "The pediatric department's occupancy reached 1.5 times its ability. We have asked that children be transferred to other hospitals in the area if there is no urgency," said Levy.