Israel Reports 16th Death in Measles Outbreak as 6-Year-Old Dies

Israel's Health Ministry said a 6-year-old child died of measles on Sunday, bringing the total number of deaths in the current outbreak to 16, according to a ministry statement reported by the Times of Israel.

The ministry said the child arrived at a hospital in critical condition and was declared dead after resuscitation efforts failed.

The Health Ministry said the outbreak has spread through ultra-Orthodox communities and other areas with lower immunization rates. The ministry also said most previous deaths involved children who had been healthy with no underlying conditions and who had not been vaccinated against measles.

According to ministry data, 25 people were hospitalized with measles at the time of the update, including seven in intensive care.

The ministry described the current outbreak as Israel's worst measles epidemic since 2018-2019, noting it has involved more deaths than that previous outbreak.

What measles is and how it spreads

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that spreads mainly through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC describes vaccination as the primary tool to prevent measles and limit outbreaks.

Israel's government health information site describes measles as a contagious disease that can cause serious complications, with higher risk among young children and people with weakened immune systems, and says timely vaccination is the best way to prevent infection.