Israel
A high standard of dental care is available in Israel
Supplies of international medications are generally available in Israel
Blood supplies are considered as safe, collected from volunteer donors and screened to international standards
Modern medical care and medicines are available in Israel. However, some hospitals in Israel and most hospitals in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank fall below Western standards. Travelers can find information in English about emergency medical facilities and after-hours pharmacies in the Jerusalem Post and English language Ha'aretz newspapers. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services.
Recent medical and dental exams should ensure that the traveler is in good health. Carry appropriate health and accident insurance documents and copies of any important medical records. Bring an adequate supply of all prescription and other medications as well as any necessary personal hygiene items, including a spare pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses if necessary.
Take personal protective measures against insects. Drink only bottled beverages (including water) or beverages made with boiled water. Do not use ice cubes or eat raw seafood or rare meat. Eat well-cooked foods while they are still hot and fruits that can be peeled without contamination. Avoid roadside stands and street vendors. Only pasteurized dairy products should be consumed.
Scorpions are found in the Tiberias area, and poisonous snakes are in the Negev. Neither, however, presents a major problem.
Those allergic to dust, molds, and pollens may have trouble at times.
Air pollution constitutes a significant problem and occasional health hazard along Israel's industrialized coastal strip. Particularly hard hit is Haifa where air pollution (especially sulfur dioxide) often exceeds local standards. Water pollution is a country-wide problem leading to dysentery outbreaks in Haifa and the Western Galilee since 1985.
Hepatitis A: Consider active immunization with hepatitis A vaccine or passive immunization with immune globulin (IG) for all susceptible travelers. Especially consider choosing active immunization for persons planning to reside for a long period or for persons who take frequent short-term trips to risk areas. The importance of protection against hepatitis A increases as length of stay increases. It is particularly important for persons who will be living in or visiting rural areas, eating or drinking in settings of poor or uncertain sanitation, or who will have close contact with local persons (especially young children) in settings with poor sanitary conditions.
Hepatitis B: Vaccination is advised for health care workers, persons anticipating direct contact with blood from or sexual contact with inhabitants, and persons planning extended stays of 6 months or greater (especially those who anticipate using local health care facilities, staying in rural areas, or having intimate contact with the local population).
Polio: A one-time booster dose is recommended for travelers who have previously completed a standard course of polio immunization. Refer to CDC guidelines for vaccinating unimmunized or incompletely immunized persons. Pregnancy is a relative contraindication to vaccination; however, if protection is needed, either IPV or OPV may be used, depending on preference and time available.
Rabies: Preexposure vaccination should be considered for persons staying longer than 30 days who are expected to be at risk to bites from domestic and/or wild animals (particularly dogs), or for persons engaged in high risk activities such as spelunking or animal handling. Need for vaccination is more important if potential exposure is in rural areas and if adequate postexposure care is not readily available.
Typhoid: Vaccination should be considered for persons staying longer than 3 weeks, adventurous eaters, and those who will venture off the usual tourist routes into small cities, villages and rural areas. Importance of vaccination increases as access to reasonable medical care becomes limited. Contraindications depend on vaccine type.
Note: All routine vaccines (such as DTP or Td, Hib, MMR, polio, varicella, influenza and pneumococcal) should be kept up-to-date as a matter of good health practice unrelated to travel.
Health conditions in Israel are generally much better than in other Middle Eastern countries. Municipal health controls generally are satisfactory.
Insect-borne diseases: these do not generally pose widespread hazards to the traveler.
Leishmaniasis (cutaneous) - occurs
Leishmaniasis (visceral) - occurs
Tick-borne relapsing fever - occurs
Typhus (including murine and tick-borne) - occurs
Food-borne and water-borne illness: poses a hazard in most areas.
Brucellosis - occurs
Echinococcosis (hydatid disease) - occurs
Hepatitis - common
Taeniasis - occurs
Typhoid fever - occurs
Other hazards:
High levels of immunization coverage have reduced the incidence of diseases such as measles and diphtheria. Polio is still considered a possible risk, although no cases have been reported in recent years.
Influenza risk extends from November to April.
Animal rabies may be a problem.
None.
