Health Ministry Updates Swimming Guidelines After Child Contracts Brain-Eating Amoeba

Following a serious infection of a nine-year-old boy with a brain-eating amoeba, the Israeli Ministry of Health has updated its recommendations for swimming in the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret). The child contracted the Naegleria fowleri amoeba, which can cause a rare and often fatal brain infection.

The ministry is now advising the public to avoid swimming in freshwater bodies during hot weather, particularly in shallow, warm, and stagnant water, which are ideal conditions for the amoeba's proliferation. They also recommend avoiding activities that involve immersing the head in the water or allowing water to enter the nasal passages, such as water skiing or diving.

While the Sea of Galilee is a primary source of drinking water for Israel, the ministry clarified that the infection is not related to drinking water quality. The amoeba is naturally present in warm freshwater environments. The updated guidelines aim to prevent further cases by increasing public awareness and cautioning against risky behaviors in natural bodies of water.