Today, Saturday, the Ministry of Health recorded the first case of West Nile fever in Jenin Governorate, where doctors suspected the presence of symptoms identical to the disease, and after conducting the necessary tests, the infection was confirmed.

The Ministry said in a statement issued today that West Nile fever is transmitted through mosquitoes, and its symptoms are very similar to the symptoms of influenza with an increase in body temperature, as symptoms appear three days after the mosquito bite, and the age groups most susceptible to infection are the elderly.

She confirmed that the primary health care and environmental health teams, in cooperation with the competent authorities in Jenin Governorate, have been implementing a campaign to combat mosquitoes in the neighborhoods of Jenin and its camp since this morning, and the competent ministry teams will implement campaigns to combat mosquitoes in all governorates of the country.

The Ministry stressed that the repeated raids by the occupation army and its targeting of infrastructure, especially water and sewage networks in Jenin and other Palestinian cities and regions, led to a significant increase in the spread of mosquitoes, especially in the city of Jenin and its camp.

Yesterday, the Emergency Committee in Jenin Governorate held a series of meetings aimed at developing a plan to combat the spread of mosquitoes, and its implementation began this morning.

The Ministry of Health called on citizens to protect themselves from infection by wearing long clothes that cover the hands and feet while outside the home during times when mosquitoes are active at night, using mosquito nets when sleeping, using mosquito-repellent skin creams, and placing nets (sieves) on the windows of homes, in addition to cooperation. With the Ministry's crews and concerned authorities in draining stagnant water and swamps in the courtyards of homes, around trees, and flower beds.

It is noteworthy that West Nile fever is a viral disease transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. It was discovered in 1937 in West Nile State in Uganda.