Breaking Update
Popular Nature Reserve Closed Due to Outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease
Nahal Tabor and Yissachar Nature Reserve near the Sea of Galilee is closed to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, which has infected local cattle and.
Jerusalem, 15 March, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Nahal Tabor and Yissachar Nature Reserve is temporarily closed to pedestrian and vehicle traffic, in order to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, which has broken out in these areas and could severely harm the deer population, which is in danger of extinction.
The disease is not dangerous to humans, but people and vehicles moving in the area have the ability to spread it, thereby causing greater harm to the wildlife population.
Recently, 20 cows from a herd in the area were discovered to be infected with the virus, and every day, Nature and Parks Authority inspectors and shepherds in the area conduct observations in the stream to locate sick or dead cows and wild animals. This is a viral disease that affects cattle, sheep, deer, and pigs.
Following the discovery of the deer and the spread of the disease, the Nature and Parks Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security decided to isolate the area and close it to pedestrians and vehicles, in order to isolate the disease in the area and reduce the chances of it spreading to other areas.
The Nahal Tabor and Yissachar Nature Reserve is located about 20 kilometers south of the Sea of Galilee.
