Boy Hospitalized in Serious Condition After Swimming in Sea of Galilee

A nine-year-old boy has been hospitalized in serious condition in the intensive care unit at Rambam Hospital in Haifa after contracting a rare amoebic brain infection. The Ministry of Health confirmed the diagnosis after initial epidemiological investigations indicated the boy swam at the Kinneret's Kursi beach approximately six days before being admitted to the hospital. The infection is caused by a rare amoeba found primarily in warm freshwater, which can enter the central nervous system through the nose, leading to severe inflammation. The ministry stressed that this is an extremely rare disease with a high mortality rate, noting fewer than 500 cases have been documented worldwide. In Israel, three cases have been recorded in recent years, with two in the United States in the past year. Transmission occurs exclusively when amoeba-contaminated water enters the nasal cavity; it cannot be contracted by drinking water or through person-to-person contact. Symptoms requiring immediate medical attention after exposure to warm freshwater include high fever, severe headaches, nausea, or vomiting. If neck stiffness, confusion, unusual drowsiness, or altered consciousness develop, prompt medical evaluation is crucial, and healthcare providers should be informed of the water exposure.