Boy Hospitalized in Serious Condition After Swimming in Sea of Galilee

A boy, approximately 9 years old, is hospitalized in serious condition with encephalitis, sedated and on a respirator in intensive care at Rambam Hospital. An initial epidemiological investigation revealed that the boy had been swimming at the Kinneret's Kursi beach about a week before his hospitalization. A sample sent to the Ministry of Health laboratories on Sunday confirmed the suspicion that the boy contracted a rare amoeba infection, Naegleria fowleri.

Naegleria fowleri is a rare microscopic amoeba found primarily in warm freshwater sources. In extremely rare cases, it can cause severe central nervous system infections. Infection can occur when water containing the amoeba enters the nose, allowing the amoeba to reach the brain. The disease is not caused by drinking water and is not transmitted from person to person. The Ministry of Health stated that the mortality rate for this disease is high, with fewer than 500 cases reported worldwide. In Israel, there have been three previous cases in recent years.

To reduce the risk when swimming in warm freshwater, the Ministry of Health recommends avoiding getting water in the nose as much as possible, especially when jumping, diving, or submerging the head. Using nose plugs or pinching the nose can help. It is also advised to avoid digging or stirring up the bottom in shallow waters, where the amoeba may be present in higher concentrations.

This incident follows a similar case in July 2024, where a boy around 10 years old was diagnosed with encephalitis after swimming, also attributed to the Naegleria fowleri amoeba. That was the second case diagnosed in Israel from this specific "brain-eating amoeba."