Kinneret Swim Race Postponed After Child Contracts Brain-Eating Amoeba

The annual Kinneret Crossing swim race, originally scheduled for September 19, has been postponed to November 14. The decision was made following the hospitalization of a 9-year-old boy who contracted a rare and deadly brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri. The boy became infected after swimming at the Kursi beach on the Sea of Galilee.

Naegleria fowleri is a free-living microscopic amoeba that can cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a devastating infection of the brain. The amoeba is typically found in warm freshwater environments, such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs. Infection occurs when contaminated water enters the nose and the amoeba travels to the brain.

While rare, PAM is almost always fatal. Health officials are investigating the source of the infection at Kursi beach and have advised the public to exercise caution when swimming in freshwater bodies during warm weather. The postponement of the Kinneret Crossing, a popular event attracting hundreds of swimmers, highlights the seriousness of the public health concern.