Israel’s Health Ministry issued a public health warning on Monday amid a sharp increase in influenza cases this winter, recommending that the entire population get vaccinated and that those who are sick stay home to avoid spreading the virus.
The recommendations come after the Advisory Committee on Epidemic Control held an emergency meeting Sunday night to discuss the rapid rise in flu cases, which, according to Hebrew media reports, has caused the deaths of three children under 18 in recent weeks—compared with four child deaths during all of last flu season.
Flu season ‘began early with high intensity’
Flu morbidity data in Israel and worldwide were presented during the discussion, which included, in addition to the expert committee, professionals from hospitals, community health services, academia and the Health Ministry.
“The data presented in the discussion indicate that this year’s flu season in Israel and other countries began early and with high intensity, including significant morbidity among children. Based on global trends, a severe illness season is expected,” said Health Ministry spokesperson Shira Solomon.
“After examining the latest information, the Advisory Committee recommended calling on the entire population to get vaccinated against influenza,” the statement continued, emphasizing that the vaccine protects against severe illness and death.
“The physicians on the committee recommended that people with symptoms remain at home until recovery and not expose others to illness, including avoiding sending sick children to educational settings so they do not infect other children,” the statement continued.
The Health Ministry said the vaccine is safe and recommended for ages six months and up. It is available free of charge at health maintenance organizations nationwide.
Rising pediatric hospitalizations
Kan News reported on Sunday that at least 30 children and toddlers have been hospitalized in intensive care units in recent weeks due to flu complications, including two infants in critical condition in Jerusalem and another infant in Haifa in serious condition and connected to an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine.
About half of the children hospitalized are diagnosed with influenza, according to the public broadcaster.
Kan noted that the Health Ministry is troubled by the low vaccination rate this flu season, including among high-risk groups, with fewer than half of those aged 65 or older and less than 10% of children vaccinated.
The main type of influenza virus circulating
Influenza viruses are grouped into four types—A and B, which drive most human seasonal outbreaks, and C and D, which cause milder illness or primarily infect animals. Currently, the main circulating virus is A(H3N2), with almost no flu B activity.
According to Israel’s Channel 13 News, the three child deaths reported so far this season include an unvaccinated 6-year-old boy on Dec. 5 from Type A complications, a vaccinated 6-year-old boy on Dec. 3, and, the week prior, an unvaccinated 10-year-old girl.
Data from Israel’s National Center for Disease Control show that last year, at least 422 people hospitalized with influenza died of the disease. The data were collected from 13 general hospitals representing around 60% of hospital beds nationwide, so the actual mortality number is likely higher.
Sharp increase in positive tests
Maccabi Healthcare Services data for November, published in Ynet on Dec. 5, show that 25% of PCR respiratory tests at Maccabi clinics were positive for flu A, compared with 5% a year earlier. Among kindergarten-age children (3–6), 59% of tests were positive for flu A, while among school-age children (6–18), about 50% were positive.
“Influenza arrived significantly earlier this year,” said Dr. Shirley Shapira Ben David, head of infectious diseases at Maccabi Healthcare Services, in an interview with Ynet. “It is not common to see such figures in November, and, of course, we are talking about underrepresentation because we do not take a PCR sample from everyone who comes to the clinic.”
Dr. Shahar Oren, a senior physician in the pediatric emergency room at Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot, where the unvaccinated 6-year-old boy died on Dec. 5, told Channel 13: “In recent days, we are witnessing a strong wave of Type A influenza, a viral illness that causes high fever and respiratory symptoms and can lead to complications such as pneumonia and myocarditis. We are still at the beginning of winter, and vaccines are available in all medical centers and health funds. Please, go get vaccinated.”
