Three children have died of measles this week as a monthslong outbreak continues to spread across Israel.
All of the victims of the disease this week were younger than two, and all three died in Jerusalem, according to hospital officials and the Health Ministry. The first death was announced on Monday, another died on Wednesday night, and the third died Thursday morning.
In total, five children, all younger than two and a half years old, have died of measles since August. They are the first fatalities from measles in Israel since a previous outbreak hit the country in 2018-2019. The fatalities in that bout of measles were the first Israel had seen since 2003.
The current outbreak, which began in May, is active throughout the country.
Measles cases have appeared in the central cities of Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh and Bnei Brak, the northern cities of Harish and Nof HaGalil, the southern cities of Ashdod and Kiryat Gat, and the West Bank settlement of Modi’in Illit.
As of Thursday, 21 measles patients are hospitalized, most of them children 6 or under who have not been vaccinated against measles. Of these, six children are in intensive care.
A notice warning of measles is seen on a door in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim in Jerusalem, July 31, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
In late August, the Health Ministry reported that 770 people in Israel had been diagnosed with measles over the past three months. Multiple people with measles, or who had been exposed to the disease, are reported to have come to Israel on flights from abroad.
Measles is a highly contagious, life-threatening viral disease. When symptoms appear, it is important to inform medical teams to allow treatment.
Measles is preventable through an effective and safe vaccine. Doctors have urged ramped-up vaccination drives in response to the current outbreak.
