West Nile fever kills elderly woman

24 cases of disease carried by mosquitoes diagnosed this year.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
An 87-year-old woman who suffered from serious cardiovascular and other diseases and was bitten by a mosquito infected with West Nile fever died recently, the Health Ministry reported on Monday.
There have been 24 other diagnosed cases and six possible cases of the fever in recent weeks; by this time last year, there were only six to 13 reported cases.
As the annual outbreak arrived earlier than usual, the Health and Environmental Protection ministries reminded the public to do what they could to keep mosquitoes away.
This includes using window screens and mosquito repellent, drying up standing water and wearing light, long-sleeved clothing.
The virus has no harmful effects on the healthy, but people with weak immune systems – including young children, the chronically ill and the elderly – are at risk for complications if infected.
The two ministries work together to reduce the numbers of mosquitoes and fight the spread of the disease. More information (in Hebrew) can be obtained at www.health.gov.il and www.sviva.gov.il.