Health Ministry Projects 150 Animal Rabies Cases This Year
Published
Health Ministry officials projected that Israel will record roughly 150 rabies cases in animals during 2026, after 102 cases in 2025. The ministry said infections have spread from northern districts into the Sharon and central Israel, while infected dogs now account for a larger share of cases. Public Health Division head Prof. Sigal Sadetsky described the trend as alarming and urged residents not to feed wildlife. Officials reminded anyone bitten or exposed to animal saliva to wash the area immediately and seek prompt assessment from a district health bureau.
Sources
Difference in reporting
Sources factually disagree on the interim 2026 count: Walla and Newsru report 69 confirmed animal cases, while Mako and Ynet cite 63 cases through May. The remaining facts are uniform: cases rose sharply from 29 in 2022 to 102 in 2025, the disease has spread toward central Israel, and Health Ministry officials project roughly 150 cases this year.
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