Israel's Health Ministry Refuses to Close Galilee Beaches Despite Deadly Amoeba
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Israel's Ministry of Health will not close Sea of Galilee beaches despite the presence of a deadly amoeba, instead advising swimmers to take personal precautions. Four cases have been confirmed since 2022, with the most recent linked to a child who swam at Kursi beach.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Health Ministry refuses to close Galilee beaches due to deadly amoeba.
- Swimmers advised to use nose plugs and avoid head submersion.
- Amoeba presence is low and difficult to detect in water.
- Four cases confirmed in Israel since 2022.
- Recent case linked to swimming at Kursi beach.
Israel's Ministry of Health has stated that a deadly amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, remains present in the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret) but will not order the closure of its beaches. The ministry is placing the responsibility on swimmers to take precautions, such as using nose plugs and avoiding submerging their heads in the water, to prevent infection. Professor Sigal Sadetzki, head of public health services at the ministry, described finding the amoeba in the water as "like looking for a needle in a haystack" due to its low concentration and uneven distribution.
The ministry clarified that infection occurs when amoeba-laden water enters the nose, potentially reaching the brain, and that the amoeba cannot be contracted by drinking the water or through person-to-person contact. Despite the severity of the amoeba, which causes a rare but often fatal disease, the ministry is not recommending beach closures. "Every public health situation is a developing situation, we are constantly monitoring and making decisions as we go," Professor Sadetzki stated, adding that current guidelines do not include closing beaches.
This decision comes after four confirmed cases of the amoeba in Israel since 2022, with two occurring in the summer of 2024 and linked to the Hof Gay water park on the Sea of Galilee. The most recent case involved a child who had bathed at the Kinneret's Kursi beach a week before being hospitalized. The ministry acknowledges that standard water quality tests do not detect this specific amoeba, and due to its unpredictable presence, they cannot guarantee the safety of swimming in the lake. The choice to enter the water remains with the individual swimmer.
Professor Sadetzki explained that the amoeba is expected to continue to be present in the Sea of Galilee due to the lake's ecological conditions, and there is currently no clear timeline for when these recommendations might be lifted. The ministry is not explicitly advising against entering the water but cannot assure its safety, instead urging swimmers to minimize risks through personal protective measures.
