Deadly Brain-Eating Amoeba Persists in Sea of Galilee Despite Open Beaches

Despite the opening of beaches on the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret), Israeli health authorities are issuing a stark warning about the continued presence of a deadly brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri. The warning comes after a nine-year-old boy, Baruch Neria, was hospitalized in serious condition with an infection. The Ministry of Health stated that the microorganism remains in the lake because there are currently no practical methods to determine its concentration or eliminate it entirely. Professor Sigal Sadecky, head of the Public Health Service, explained that the amoeba is present in extremely low concentrations, making it virtually impossible to detect. "We have no reason to test for the amoeba in the Kinneret, we know it is there. But due to the low concentration, it is very difficult to detect," she said, adding that even specialized lab tests cannot accurately assess the risk to swimmers.

Sadecky emphasized that the amoeba is expected to remain in the Sea of Galilee indefinitely, and the impact of environmental factors on its presence is not yet fully understood. Despite this being the fourth recorded case of infection, authorities are not planning to close the beaches, basing their decisions on risk assessments that do not currently prohibit swimming. Disinfecting the vast lake, unlike a swimming pool, is technically impossible due to its size. "Finding the amoeba in the water is like looking for a needle in a haystack. We cannot chlorinate the Kinneret, it's not a small pool. We have no way to treat it," Professor Sadecky explained.

When asked about the potential presence of the amoeba in other freshwater sources in Israel, she could not rule it out. Consequently, a mass swim event planned for the Sea of Galilee has been postponed until November. The amoeba thrives in warm water, and scientific data suggests the risk significantly decreases when temperatures drop to 24 degrees Celsius (75.2 degrees Fahrenheit) or below. Health officials remind the public that infection remains extremely rare, even with millions of visitors to the lake each summer. The primary mode of transmission is through water entering the nose, allowing the amoeba to reach the brain. Therefore, the Ministry of Health strongly advises against getting water in the nose and recommends avoiding splashing.

Routine water quality tests for the lake and regional pools continue, but they do not include specific searches for Naegleria fowleri. Citizens are urged to assess the risks themselves when deciding whether to swim. Earlier, the outlet reported a plane disappearance over the Bahamas.