An Israeli man in his 80s died because of complications of West Nile fever early Friday, becoming the ninth person to succumb to the disease in the country since early August, reported the Jerusalem Post newspaper.
Spokesman at Meir Hospital Hagit Sharon said this was the fourth death from the virus at the hospital.
"We have many people from the area coming to the emergency room in a panic saying they had been bitten by mosquitoes or worried about flu-like symptoms. We try to calm them down."
A multidisciplinary committee from various ministries met on Friday to discuss the epidemic, said the paper.
In an effort to increase its so-far minimal and sporadic information campaign, the Health Ministry decided to open an Internet site in the coming days.
According to the paper, the campaign will explain how to reduce exposure to the mosquitoes, including the use of repellent and staying indoors in the early evening and at night, when female mosquitoes tend to be out biting.
The disease is harmless to healthy people but can in rare cases be devastating to those with weak immune systems, especially the elderly, added the paper.
The initial symptoms are fever, a headache, muscle pain, weakness, and sometimes a rash - Albawaba.com
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
