The Or Yehuda and Kiryat Ono areas have reported four more cases of West Nile virus, two of whom belonged to the same street. Besides, three additional cases were diagnosed in Ramat Gan, with two of them living near the National Park area.

It was not just the number of people which is an exceptional figure among the statistics as the resulting level of infection and symptoms was also relatively severe. As a result of the virus, two of the patients had a bad impact on their central nervous system, and left at least five others requiring artificial respiration. One patient lost his life as a result.

Most of the patients were admitted at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan. Prof. Galia Rahav, the head of Sheba's infectious Disease Unit said, “In last three months we have seen a large uptake in patients suffering from West Nile virus, leading to significant neurological damage. Most of the patients arrived with encephalitis or infections of the brain, cramps, and a decline in consciousness”.

Prof. Rahav mentioned that they have also assessed various psychiatric changes in patients. Two of the patients have shown improvement whereas an additional patient has been sent to neurological recovery. He added that few patients still need artificial respiration.

Prof. Rahav said this is a tough disease, which characteristically presents itself in the form of an infection of the brain, and frequently the spinal cord as well.