Boy, 9, Critically Ill After Swimming in Sea of Galilee

A nine-year-old boy is in critical condition after contracting a rare brain infection, believed to be caused by an amoeba, following a swim in the Sea of Galilee. The child is currently hospitalized at Rambam Medical Center, sedated and on a ventilator in the intensive care unit.

The Ministry of Health confirmed late Tuesday that laboratory tests on a sample from the boy corroborated the suspicion that he was infected by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba. An initial epidemiological investigation indicated that the boy had been swimming at Kinneret beach approximately one week before his hospitalization.

Naegleria fowleri is a rare, microscopic amoeba found primarily in warm freshwater sources. Infection, which is extremely rare and not transmitted person-to-person or through drinking water, can occur when water containing the amoeba enters the nose, allowing the amoeba to travel to the brain and cause a severe central nervous system infection. The disease has a high mortality rate.

Globally, fewer than 500 cases have been reported, with two in the U.S. in the past year. Israel has recorded three previous cases in recent years. The Ministry of Health advises avoiding submerging the head or allowing water to enter the nose when swimming in warm freshwater, suggesting the use of nose plugs or pinching the nose shut. They also recommend avoiding disturbing the sediment in shallow waters where the amoeba may be more concentrated.

Symptoms to watch for after exposure to warm freshwater include fever, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, and, critically, stiff neck, confusion, unusual drowsiness, or altered consciousness, all of which warrant immediate medical attention with a mention of water exposure. The Ministry of Health is continuing to monitor the situation and will provide updates as necessary.