As the coronavirus pandemic spurs Israelis to observe social distancing, wear face masks, and get vaccinated, several infectious diseases - including measles - seem to be on a sharp decline, according to Health Ministry data.
Only one year ago, measles was considered one of the world's most infectious diseases with over 110,000 cases recorded globally between February and May – a 300% spike compared to the previous year.
Over 800 cases were detected In Israel alone, marking a several hundred percent increase in illness, while health officials estimated the real figures may have been ten times higher.
Other infectious diseases were also on the decline thanks to the measures imposed to fight the spread of COVID-19, as reported by emergency rooms across the country's hospitals this year.
Measles is a highly contagious illness whose symptoms include coughing, high fever, rashes, and sores in the mouth and around the eye area which usually appear after a 12-day incubation period.
The disease could be especially deadly to children under the age of 5 and adults over the age of 20.
Measles has no available cure and patients are treated with antibiotics that attack secondary infections but do not affect the virus.
The Israeli healthcare system includes the MMR vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella delivered in two doses, the first at the age of one and the second at the age of six.