Young Man Hospitalized With Eye Infection After Swimming in Sea of Galilee

A 20-year-old man was hospitalized in central Israel with a severe eye infection, identified as microsporidiosis, after swimming in the Sea of Galilee during the summer. His mother, Ilanit (a pseudonym), told Walla that her son experienced intense pain and blurred vision for weeks following the incident, requiring extensive treatment including the removal of corneal epithelial layers twice and frequent eye drop application. The family visited Ein Gev on July 24 and Kursi beach on July 31. Symptoms began about two weeks after the last visit, leading to his admission to a hospital on August 17, where doctors suspected microsporidia based on clinical examination. A PCR test later confirmed the diagnosis.

The mother recalled reading about microsporidia in the Sea of Galilee previously, a concern initially dismissed by her husband and son as anxiety. She noted that the Ministry of Health had reported two similar cases attributed to the parasite in the Sea of Galilee about a month prior, emphasizing that drinking the water was safe but cautioning about potential eye damage. The ministry had previously issued and then rescinded a swimming advisory for the lake due to unusual microbial results.

While hospitalized, a secondary infection with Acanthamoeba, a common amoeba that can cause severe corneal damage, was also suspected. Although a PCR test for Acanthamoeba was negative, medical staff treated him cautiously for this possibility as well. The young man underwent a painful and prolonged treatment, described by his mother as a "nightmare," involving multiple corneal scraping procedures and constant eye drops, necessitating hospitalization.

Despite being discharged, his recovery is ongoing. He continues to experience pain, difficulty keeping his eye open, and blurred vision. The extent of permanent damage to his vision remains unclear, though the cornea is now free of the initial lesions, with residual cloudiness. His mother expressed gratitude for the medical team's efforts in saving his eye but stated that the family would avoid the Sea of Galilee for the foreseeable future due to the suffering he endured.

She urged greater public awareness regarding the risks of swimming in the Sea of Galilee, advocating for clear signage at beaches detailing potential dangers and necessary precautions. She believes that without her prior knowledge of microsporidia, she might have dismissed her son's symptoms as a common eye infection. The family is awaiting further tests to determine the long-term impact on his vision. This case follows a report from the previous day about a 9-year-old boy hospitalized in serious condition with encephalitis, suspected to be from Naegleria fowleri, another waterborne parasite, after swimming at Kursi beach.