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El Al flight attendant dies four months after contracting measles

Blood tests showed that Rotem Amitai, 43, had received only one of two required vaccination shots against the highly contagious disease, of which there have been nearly 4,300 cases in Israel this year.

Rotem Amitai. Credit: Courtesy.
Rotem Amitai. Credit: Courtesy.

Israeli flight attendant Rotem Amitai, 43, died on Tuesday after contracting measles in late March, becoming the third fatality in an outbreak of the highly contagious disease in the country this year.

Amitai’s health deteriorated and was transferred to the Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba in April, and then to the intensive care unit after suffering brain damage and falling into a coma. She then was transferred to Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah, where she died.

There have been approximately 4,300 cases of measles reported in Israel in the past year.

Amitai, a mother of three, was vaccinated against the disease, but only received one of two required shots, according to reports.

El AL moved to immediately make sure all of its aircrew are vaccinated.

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