A two-year-old toddler died last week from measles complications at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem. The toddler had been hospitalized for ten days in a serious condition and was connected to an ECMO life support machine, a device that replaces the function of the heart and lungs, but her condition deteriorated and the medical staff had to declare her death. She is the eighth victim of the measles outbreak since it began in April, with all its victims being children under two and a half years old who were not vaccinated.
The hospital reported that the toddler was hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit in critical condition, due to severe complications from the illness. "She was treated by a multidisciplinary team fighting for her life, but ultimately we had to declare her death," the statement said.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, since the beginning of the outbreak, approximately 1,880 measles cases have been diagnosed, of which 562 required hospitalization – 90% of them children, most of whom were unvaccinated. The current outbreak, which began in Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, and Bnei Brak, has spread to other cities including Nof HaGalil, Harish, Modi'in Illit, Kiryat Gat, Ashdod, and Tzfat. Nine cities are currently defined as active disease hotspots. The national vaccination rate for the first dose stands at only 89% – below the required target of 95% for herd immunity.
According to the Ministry of Health's data, there has been a significant increase in vaccinations in the Ultra-Orthodox areas at the center of the outbreak: in Jerusalem, the vaccination rate rose from 77% to 83%, and in Beit Shemesh from 72% to 82%. "Despite the improvement, this coverage is not sufficient to prevent widespread infection," the Ministry of Health stated.
In response to the outbreak, a National Vaccination Command Center was established, centralizing the national vaccination efforts. The Ministry expanded the Family Care Center 'Tipat Halav' network, added more than 200 nursing shifts over the past three months, and recruited nursing students to regions where vaccination rates are particularly low. In addition, 11 permanent vaccination sites were set up, and a mobile vaccination unit operates daily in cities with low vaccination rates.
The Ministry of Health emphasizes that the disease can be prevented with a simple and effective vaccine that has been in use for decades. Additionally, the ministry warns of an increase in the spread of false information about vaccines on social networks and in closed communities. As a result, the ministry has appealed to the police and health institution administrators to act against those spreading misleading information "that could endanger lives."
As part of the effort to encourage vaccination, senior leaders and rabbis from the Haredi communities have been recruited, including chief rabbis, the Haredi Rabbinical Court, and prominent rabbis. Letters supporting vaccination were also distributed in synagogues and educational institutions.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease, with an infection rate of over 90% among unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to a patient. Its symptoms include high fever, runny nose, conjunctivitis, and rash, and in severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia, damage to internal organs, and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). The Ministry of Health notes that all deaths and severe illnesses could have been prevented through a simple and safe vaccination.
