Toddler dies of meningitis in central Israeli city of Bnei Brak

An 18-month old girl died of meningitis Sunday, according to hospital officials in Be'er Sehva. 

Her parents brought her to the Maayanei Hayeshua medical center Sunday morning when she was already unconscious with a fever and rash. The medical staff tried to resuscitate her but soon declared her dead.

Prof. Moti Ravid, director of the hospital, said the toddler died of meningitis. Her relatives who were in contact with her are receiving preventative antibiotics.

Some 10 percent of meningitis cases result in death, more often among children under the age of five.

Israel has employed meningitis vaccinations since 1994, with children receiving it at ages two, four, six and twelve months. Experts estimate that administering the vaccine could prevent some 4,000 cases of hospitalization and 10 deaths per year.

In 2008, an 18-year-old student from Kfar Sava was declared brain-dead after being infected with meningococcal meningitis.