Israel

MAIN HEALTH RISKS

• A few sandflies can transmit leishmaniosis; protect yourself carefully from insects.
• Cases of avian flu have been identified among wild and domestic birds, but no case of human transmission has been reported so far. In January 2008, an avian flu source has been detected in Binyamina, between Tel-Aviv and Haifa.
• Protect yourself carefully from sun and heat to avoid burns or sunstrokes.
• Protect yourself from scorpions to avoid bites.

FOOD SAFETY

• No specific risk.

IMMUNIZATIONS AND MEDICATION

• No specific immunization is required from travelers entering the country.
Systematically:
• Hepatitis A: the vaccination is available for children at least one year old. For persons who were born before 1945, who have spent their childhood in a developing country or who have had an icterus, it may prove useful to search previously for serous antibodies in order to avoid an unnecessary shot.
• Hepatitis B: the vaccination is available for children at least two months old.
• Diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis: get a booster shot before leaving if your last shot is more than ten years old.



Depending on the duration and conditions of the trip:
• Typhoid fever: if the stay is occurring in precarious hygiene condition. The immunization is available for children at least 2 years old.
• Tuberculosis: in case of a long stay, it is recommended to have children immunized against tuberculosis as soon as they reach the age of one month, and against mumps, measles and rubella when they reach the age of nine months.

HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURES

Tel Aviv
• Assuta Hospital, 62 Jabotinsky St.: phone + 972 3 5201507/8, fax + 972 3 520 1422
• Basel Heights Medical Center, 35 Basel Street: phone + 972 3 546 2330, fax + 972 3 546 8429
• Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, 6 Weisman Street: phone + 972 3 6974254, fax + 972 3 6973635



Jerusalem
• Hadassah Ein Karem Hospital, Kiryat Hadassah: phone + 972 2 677 7111
• Shaare Zedek Medical Center: phone + 972 2 666 6666 / 655 5111, fax + 972 2 652 2950

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

• Police: 100
• Ambulances: 101
• Firemen: 102

CLIMATE

• Winters are generally mild and summers hot and humid.
• The rainy season lasts from October to March, though rains are possible through May.
• When to go: April-May or November-December.