Emergence of an echovirus 17 subtype causing a viral meningitis outbreak, Israel, 2025 to 2026
An outbreak of enteroviral meningitis occurred in Israel between August 2025 and May 2026. Echovirus type 17 was identified in 72 hospitalised patients, most of them infants (n = 44). Many patients (n = 45) were from densely populated Haredi (strictly Orthodox) communities. Clinical course was mild. Phylogenetic analysis suggests extensive local transmission. Echovirus 17 infections declined abruptly following the implementation of community restrictions imposed during a military conflict. This outbreak highlights the value of routine molecular enterovirus surveillance.
Authors
- Leah Weiss
- Tatyana Ruderman
- Michal Paret (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7786-8751)
- Danit Sofer
- Reut Gabay
- Or Kriger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7601-9419)
- Merav Weil (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4472-4081)
- Talya Finn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7955-8725)
- Yaniv Lustig (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7949-5912)
- Oshrat Ayalon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2676-2340)
- Neta S. Zuckerman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6074-2100)
- Eli Somekh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4129-6867)
- Efrat Dresner
- Ilana S. Fratty (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7414-8022)
- Hilla De-Leon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8949-4884)
- Rinat Vasserman
- Rivka Rich (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1726-1990)
- Orli Megged (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5595-4109)
- Eyal Nadir
- Mohamed Asi
- Erez S Garty (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4864-1707)
Institutions
- Tel Aviv University (IL)
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem (IL)
- Sheba Medical Center (IL)
- Laniado Hospital (IL)
- Shaare Zedek Medical Center (IL)
- Israel Ministry of Health (IL)
- Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center (IL)
- Ariel University (IL)
- University of Haifa (IL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Eurosurveillance
- Published
- 2026-07-30
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.es.2026.31.30.2600600
- Primary Topic
- Viral Infections and Immunology Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00