(Vax-Before-Travel News)
Israel’s Health Ministry has reported the death of an unvaccinated toddler from a measles infection. The child died due to complications related to the virus.
As of October 26, 2025, this child marks the eighth death recorded since the measles outbreak began, with all cases involving infants who did not have any underlying medical conditions and were unvaccinated.
During 2025, there have been 1,778 measles cases and 574 hospitalizations.
The Ministry reported in a press release that the current measles outbreak areas include Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Bnei Brak, Harish, Modi’in Illit, Nazareth Illit, Kiryat Gat, Ashdod, Safed, Netivot, and the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council.
In these areas, people can visit family care centers and health maintenance organizations, and vaccinations are available without an appointment.
The Ministry advises unvaccinated individuals and parents of infants who have received one dose of the vaccine to avoid participating in large gatherings in outbreak areas due to the risk of infection.
As a result of the Ministry’s efforts to increase vaccination coverage, vaccinations in Jerusalem have increased by 500% since September compared to the same period last year, and by 630% in Beit Shemesh.
In light of these figures, the first-dose vaccination coverage (for ages 1-6) against measles in Jerusalem rose from 77% to 84%, and in Beit Shemesh from 72% to 82.6%.
According to the U.S. CDC, international travelers planning to visit Israel in 2025 should be fully vaccinated against measles and polio.
In the USA, these vaccines are offered at travel clinics and pharmacies.