Wild Rabies Case in Israel

Figure 1: A jackal

Jackals infected with rabies were found on Monday, December 04 in the Meggido region of Israel. Two human cases have been reported in this region, just 10 km apart from each other. Resultantly, the Israeli Minister of Health, has urged everyone living in this region, who has been in contact with wild jackals, to get checked for rabies and take preventive measures (i.e. getting vaccinated) (1).

As the jackal population has been increasing in recent years, the incidence of rabies had remained relatively low; therefore, no one foresaw the sudden cases that have taken place over the last couple of days (3). Especially given that the World Health Organization has consistently categorized Israel as a nation with a low risk of contracting rabies (see 2010 map below).

Prevention: Vaccine available. Furthermore, in most cases rabies is transmitted by dog bites, so vaccinating pets is of the utmost importance. In this case, the virus was transmitted by a jackal, so minimizing contacts with these animals is an important prevention strategy (5).

Symptoms of Rabies: First few days- flu-like symptoms, weakness, fever. Within a few days symptoms may include itching at the bite site and psychological/behavioral changes including: delirium, hallucinations, anxiety, insomnia, etc. Once the clinical signs appear, rabies is almost always FATAL (6).

Treatment: Cleaning the would and obtaining the vaccine (prophlyaxis)- live and passive virus, if first time being vaccinated- and immunoglobulin (2).