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Jerusalem, August 17, 2025 – Israel’s ongoing measles outbreak has claimed the life of a second young child, health officials confirmed Saturday, as authorities intensified appeals to vaccinate children in accordance with the national immunization schedule.
An 18-month-old boy, who had not received the measles vaccine, died Saturday at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center, according to a statement from Israel’s Health Ministry. The country’s first death in the current outbreak, also involving an unvaccinated child—a two-year-old boy—occurred on Wednesday at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center.
Since the outbreak’s onset in early April, Israeli health authorities have documented 526 confirmed measles cases, with 209 currently active. Among these, 19 children under age six remain hospitalized, and one-year-old girl is receiving advanced life support via ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), underscoring the severity of the situation.
Measles, a highly contagious viral disease, typically causes symptoms such as fever, nausea, runny nose, and a characteristic rash. However, complications can become severe and even life-threatening, particularly for young children and the unvaccinated.
“In light of recent cases, the Health Ministry urges all parents to ensure their children receive measles vaccinations according to the recommended schedule,” the ministry stated. Israel’s schedule includes one dose at 12 months of age and a booster in the first grade.
As the nation works to contain the outbreak, officials continue to emphasize the importance of vaccination in protecting not only individual children but also the broader community.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. For health-related questions or concerns, please consult a qualified healthcare provider.
Reference: https://english.news.cn/20250817/f58f2fa9f5624d5e9481b0491dfcdf5d/c.html
