Israel Staying Healthy

Common sense is the simplest prescription for good health while you travel. Drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration and constipation and wear sturdy, broken-in shoes and clean socks.

Environmental Hazards

Heat exhaustion and dehydration: Heat exhaustion, characterized by dehydration and salt deficiency, can lead to fatigue, headaches, and wooziness. Drink plenty of fluids (when hiking drink a liter every hr.), eat salty foods (e.g. crackers), and avoid dehydrating beverages (e.g. alcohol, coffee, tea, and caffeinated soda). Wear a hat, sunglasses, and a lightweight long-sleeved shirt in hot sun. Continuous heat stress can eventually lead to heatstroke, characterized by a rising temperature, severe headache, and cessation of sweating. Victims should be cooled off with wet towels and taken to a doctor.
Sunburn: As a general rule, always wear sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when spending significant amounts of time outdoors. If you get sunburned, drink more fluids than usual and apply an aloe-based lotion. Severe sunburns can lead to sun poisoning, a condition that can cause fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting. Sun poisoning should always be treated by a doctor. Be mindful of particularly sunny areas of Israel such as the Jordan Rift Valley and Eilat. If you’re heading toward the Negev or Golan, particularly hiking, buy sunscreen in the city and bring it with you.

Insect-Borne Diseases

Many diseases are transmitted by insects—mainly mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, and lice—especially West Nile Virus in Israel. Be aware of insects in wet or forested areas, especially while hiking and camping. Wear long pants and long sleeves, tuck your pants into your socks, and use a mosquito net. Use insect repellents such as DEET and soak or spray your gear with permethrin (licensed in the US only for use on clothing). Mosquitoes —responsible for West Nile virus—can be particularly abundant in wet, swampy, or wooded areas.

West Nile virus (WNV): Mostly spread through mosquito bites, West Nile is a viral infection that within 3-14 days causes symptoms such as nausea, headache, high fever, coma, convulsions, and vision loss, though approximately 80% of infected people will show no symptoms whatsoever. The young and the old are the most affected. Although the most severe cases took place in 2000, it is still best to be cautious and prevent WNV by using insect repellents and wearing light-weight long-sleeved shirts and pants.

Other Health Concerns

Medical Care On The Road

Israel overall conforms to the standard of healthcare found in the West. For minor illnesses, go to a pharmacy. Israeli law requires that at least one pharmacy in a neighborhood be open or on call at all times. Pharmacists offer expert advice as well as medication and most speak English. In more serious situations, see a doctor. Almost all Israeli doctors speak nearly fluent English. Despite its socialized and universal healthcare, private practice is very expensive, and medical insurance is a must. Medical care in Israel is generally more available and of higher quality than in the Palestinian territories.

If you are concerned about obtaining medical assistance while traveling, you may wish to employ special support services. The International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers ( IAMAT; in the US ☎+1-716-754-4883, in Canada +1-416-652-0137; www.iamat.org) has free membership, lists English-speaking doctors worldwide, and offers details on immunization requirements and sanitation. For those whose insurance doesn’t apply abroad, you can purchase additional coverage (see previous page).