Flu Outbreak in Israel: A Surge in Hospital Admissions
In recent times, hospitals across Israel have been reporting an overflow of patients due to a surge in the flu virus. Alarmingly, some patients have developed complications from the flu that necessitate their hospitalization. In the previous week, two girls, aged 5 and 17, were admitted to the Meir Medical Center in serious condition, suffering from complications of the flu. In a separate incident, a one-year-old baby girl was hospitalized at Asuta Ashdod Hospital due to flu complications.
The Ministry of Health, in their report on the prevalence of influenza-like respiratory diseases in Israel, disclosed that of the samples tested, half of the patients have type A influenza. In contrast, other respiratory diseases such as RSV and Corona are decreasing. By the end of last week, approximately 700 flu patients and 200 RSV patients were admitted in various hospitals across the country.
A Significant Wave of Winter Illness
Dr. Guy Topaz, an expert in internal medicine and deputy director of the Meir Medical Center from the Klalit Group, spoke to Mako Health about the current health situation. He said, “We are in the midst of a significant wave of winter illness with an emphasis on the flu. Patients this year are experiencing a higher intensity of symptoms and more severe symptoms compared to last year.”
Dr. Giora Gutesman, director of the Infections Unit at the Meir Medical Center of the Klalit Group, added, “This year the flu started later than usual and with a very high intensity, and it is expected to continue accordingly. The flu has such a dominant presence among our children that it slightly ‘suppressed’ the RSV virus which until now was more dominant among winter diseases, especially among small babies. Influenza among children is usually accompanied by a very high fever, general malaise, muscle and headache pain, and a runny nose, and is a prolonged illness compared to other viruses. It takes the body about a week to deal with it.”
A Dramatic but Expected Increase
Discussing the factors contributing to the increase in flu cases, Prof. Cyril Cohen, head of the immunotherapy laboratory at Bar-Ilan University, stated that “it was expected”. He explained, “For several years, the incidence of influenza was low, apparently due to the restrictions during the Corona period which resulted in many not being exposed to the flu and the immunity of the population was damaged. In fact, we received a ‘promo’ for what is currently happening here in Israel already a few months ago, when we watched the severe flu wave that occurred in Australia.” He also mentioned that 95% of the flu cases are of the H3 type included in this year’s vaccine.
Dr. Yael Faran, Director of the Infectious Diseases Unit and Deputy Director of the Infectious Diseases Unit at the Tel Aviv Ichilov Medical Center, emphasized that the dramatic increase in flu cases is affecting all age groups. She said, “There are patients who need ventilation and it is important to note that it is not only the elderly population. The increase is also due to very low vaccination rates. It is still not too late to get vaccinated.”
Dr. Julie Shleifer, an internist in the Sharon Shomron district, concurred with this sentiment. She noted, “There are definitely more flu patients recently” but reassures that “this is a phenomenon that repeats itself every winter, so it is important to observe the rules of caution and get vaccinated against the virus.”
