A definite connection between the increase in summer temperatures in Israel and the incidence of West Nile fever

The researcher - Dr. Shlomit Paz from the University of Haifa: This is another alarming evidence of global warming

"The trend of global warming that has existed in recent years is also reflected in Israel and the findings prove that this has a direct impact on public health," said Dr. Shlomit Paz who conducted the research conducted in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Haifa together with Iris Albersheim. The findings will soon be published in the international journal EcoHealth.

West Nile fever is transmitted by repeated transmissions of the virus between birds using mosquitoes, with the house mosquito being the main cause of the spread of the disease in Israel. The study, which was conducted for and financed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, examined the morbidity data for West Nile fever in Israel between the years 2001 and 2005 while comparing the temperature data during the spring and summer months of these years. In the study, West Nile fever morbidity data, samples of mosquito pests and climatic data measured by different statistical methods were examined.

During the research years, the warming trend that has been detected in our region for decades continued. When the researchers compared the temperature values ​​against the morbidity data, it became clear that there is a significant positive relationship between the increase in air temperature in the spring and summer months and the increase in morbidity data. For example, in May 2003, maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded three degrees higher than the multi-year average. The number of West Nile fever patients this month stood at 80 cases, compared to seven cases in the corresponding period in 2002. Another example was found in 2005, which is considered to be the hottest year on earth since the beginning of climate measurements: in this summer months, the record in cases of morbidity was recorded: 163 cases, this compared to 38 cases of morbidity in 2004, when summer temperatures were lower than average.

According to the researchers, there are other parameters that affect the incidence of West Nile fever, but air temperatures have a decisive effect. They also added that the only way to reduce morbidity rates is through systematic monitoring of mosquito populations in time and space, and that this should be done at the beginning of the hot season. "The preventive activities can certainly lower the level of morbidity in West Nile fever, but it is important to know that the climatic fluctuations affecting our region directly affect public health", concluded the researchers.