Israel's health ministry has declared that there is an "outbreak" of West Nile fever in the country after a fifth elderly person died of the virus on Thursday, reported the Jerusalem Post newspaper.
The paper said that six others are hospitalized in serious condition, adding that the first death occurred at the beginning of August.
The ministry, which has been very low key in explaining the disorder and slow in announcing the deaths, reiterated that the virus - spread only by mosquitoes infected by birds - is endemic to the region, the paper said.
Ministry Deputy Director-General Boaz Lev was quoted as saying that death occurs only in "rare and extreme cases," especially among people with weak immune systems whose bodies cannot overcome the infection.
There are dozens of patients with encephalitis and meningitis each year as a result of unidentified viruses like West Nile. However, due to more sophisticated laboratory tests and more awareness among doctors, more cases are being diagnosed, Lev said.
A total of 47 Israelis have been diagnosed with West Nile fever since the beginning of August, said the paper, noting that all of them were over 60 and many over 80 - Albawaba.com
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