By MIRIAM BULWAR DAVID-HAY (TRANSLATED)
The Ministry for Environmental Protection is urging the public to take action against mosquitoes after a number of the insects in the Krayot and Hula Valley areas were last week found to be carrying the dangerous West Nile Fever virus, reports www.local.co.il. The ministry said six people had already been diagnosed with the virus, and that the public should help reduce the number of mosquitoes by not over-watering gardens, by drying up standing pools of water and by using mosquito repellents.
The West Nile Fever virus is transmitted to humans in mosquito bites and can cause effects that range from mild to potentially lethal. The report said that in April the ministry asked local authorities across Israel to increase their activities to reduce the mosquito hazard.