JERUSALEM, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Ministry of Health reported three additional deaths from West Nile fever on Wednesday, raising the total fatality count in the ongoing outbreak to 11.
According to the Ministry of Health, 153 people have been diagnosed with the virus since May, the highest annual infections of West Nile fever in 24 years.
Earlier Wednesday, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environmental Protection jointly announced the detection of mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, which includes major cities like Tel Aviv, Herzliya, Petah Tikva, and Kiryat Ono.
Infected mosquitoes were also identified in villages near Netanya, the Red Sea resort city of Eilat, and Hevel Eilot Regional Council in southern Israel.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection is urging local authorities to intensify mosquito monitoring and extermination efforts. The ministry also stressed the importance of public awareness and preventative measures to mitigate the mosquito threat.
