48 Measles Cases Reported in Israel, Mostly Among Haredi Families

Israel is grappling with a rapidly escalating measles outbreak, with 48 cases reported since April 20 this year, predominantly in Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) communities, prompting urgent action from health authorities and religious leaders. The outbreak, concentrated in Jerusalem (8 cases), Modi’in Illit (7 cases), and Bnei Brak (6 cases), with additional cases in Tel Aviv and Emek Hefer, poses a significant public health threat, particularly as the Lag B’Omer pilgrimage to Meron looms, expected to draw hundreds of thousands.

Low vaccination rates in Haredi areas, around 80% compared to the national 89% for infants, combined with the high contagiousness of measles, make the celebration a potential “recipe for transmission,” according to a former public health expert and senior Ministry of Health official.

The Health Ministry reports that 77% of the infected are unvaccinated, with 40 of the 48 cases affecting children under 18, none of whom were fully vaccinated. Thirteen patients, including 11 children, are hospitalized, with three unvaccinated children in critical condition in intensive care. “These are exceptionally high numbers, indicating that the disease is more widespread than what has been officially diagnosed and reported,” the Ministry stated.

The outbreak’s severity, with over a quarter of cases requiring hospitalization, suggests unreported community transmission, echoing the 2018–2019 outbreak that saw 4,300 infections, 52 hospitalizations, and three deaths.

The Ministry has launched an emergency vaccination campaign, opening walk-in vaccination centers nationwide and urging unvaccinated adults and children to get immunized. In high-risk areas, the second measles vaccine dose, typically given at age six, is now recommended as early as one month after the first.

“The Ministry calls on anyone who feels unwell and/or suffers from measles symptoms to avoid attending mass events in order not to endanger others,” the Ministry emphasized, highlighting the risk of Meron’s high-density gathering.

Individuals exposed to confirmed cases are advised to avoid public spaces and seek testing or vaccination, with special guidance for unvaccinated pregnant women, infants, and immunocompromised individuals to consult health offices for passive immunization.

Chief Rabbis Kalman Bar and David Yosef issued an urgent call for vaccination, stating, “Recently, there has been an outbreak of measles, posing a serious threat to many, endangering the lives of children, adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems. According to leading medical experts in Israel and worldwide, vaccination is the response to this disease.” They urged cooperation with medical authorities, adding, “We call on the public in Israel to fully cooperate with all medical authorities and to follow their guidance. A person needs a healthy body to fulfill his purpose and mission in life, and everyone is obligated to make efforts to prevent illness in advance. Vaccination is a key part of preventive medicine.”

The Meron celebration, a focal point of concern, could amplify transmission due to its scale and the presence of unvaccinated individuals from outbreak areas. “An event like the Hilula in Meron can lead to a measles outbreak and a wider spread among the population in Israel,” warned the former health official. “High density and suboptimal vaccination coverage is a recipe for transmission and outbreaks. It could be a repeat of the 2018 outbreak, which escalated into a nationwide crisis.” Suggestions for mask-wearing and convening the Epidemic Response Team reflect the gravity of the situation.

Measles, transmitted through airborne droplets, has a 90% infection rate among unvaccinated individuals exposed to a patient. Symptoms include fever, runny nose, fatigue, conjunctivitis, and a distinctive rash, with complications like pneumonia, encephalitis, and the rare but fatal Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE) affecting 1 in 10,000 cases.

The Ministry advises avoiding public spaces if symptoms appear and coordinating medical visits to prevent further spread. With global measles cases rising, linked to post-COVID vaccine hesitancy, Israel’s outbreak points to the urgent need for vaccination to protect communities and prevent a broader crisis at Meron and beyond.

Sources: Information compiled from posts on X, web reports, and official statements from the Israel Ministry of Health and Chief Rabbis Kalman Bar and David Yosef.