Health Ministry Warns Amoeba Will Remain in Sea of Galilee After Child's Infection

Israel's Ministry of Health has confirmed that the rare amoeba responsible for a child's severe brain infection is present in the Sea of Galilee, stating it is practically impossible to determine its concentration or eliminate the risk. Professor Sigal Sadecky, head of the Public Health Division, explained that while the amoeba, known as Naegleria, is known to exist in the lake, its concentration is extremely low, making detection difficult. "We know it sleeps in the Kinneret," she said, referring to the Sea of Galilee by its Hebrew name, adding that specialized lab tests are not conducted as they wouldn't provide useful risk information for swimmers.

Sadecky acknowledged that there is no clear answer on when public recommendations regarding the lake can be lifted, emphasizing, "The amoeba is in the Kinneret. As far as we know today, it will continue to be in the Kinneret." She highlighted the relevance of the lake's ecological conditions and suggested a need to improve its environmental state. The ministry has not closed any beaches despite the recent infection of a 9-year-old boy, Baruch Neria, who is hospitalized in serious condition at Rambam Medical Center. Current guidelines do not include beach closures, and the ministry will continue to monitor the situation.

"Finding the amoeba in the water is like looking for a needle in a haystack," Sadecky stated, explaining that the large size of the Sea of Galilee prevents any treatment to reduce the amoeba's presence. She could not rule out the possibility that the amoeba exists in other freshwater bodies in Israel. The annual Sea of Galilee crossing event has been postponed to November, a decision based on the amoeba's tendency to thrive in warmer water temperatures. Sadecky noted that scientific literature suggests the risk significantly decreases when water temperatures drop below 24 degrees Celsius (75.2 degrees Fahrenheit).

Routine water quality tests at the Sea of Galilee and its surrounding swimming pools continue, but they do not specifically test for Naegleria. Sadecky clarified that properly treated swimming pools are not expected to harbor the amoeba. Regarding previous cases linked to the Ha'Of Gey water park, she stated that exposure could not be definitively traced to the park, as individuals had also swum in the Sea of Galilee, and the park's water comes from the general water supply, not directly from the lake.

Despite the severity of the illness, Sadecky stressed that it remains an extremely rare event, with millions swimming in the Sea of Galilee each summer. However, the accumulation of cases necessitates public warnings. The primary recommendation is to avoid getting Sea of Galilee water in the nose, as infection occurs when the amoeba enters through the nasal passages and can reach the brain. Sadecky also mentioned the impact of climate change on infectious events and stated that individual swimmers must assess their own risk and make decisions accordingly.