Israel's Health Ministry Refuses to Close Galilee Beaches Amid Deadly Amoeba Threat

Despite the confirmed presence of a deadly amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, in the Sea of Galilee, Israel's Ministry of Health has stated it will not close beaches to the public. The ministry clarified that while the amoeba exists in the lake, it is present in very low concentrations and infection, which is rare but life-threatening, occurs only when water enters the nose. Drinking the water does not pose a risk, and the disease is not contagious between people.

Professor Sigal Sadetzki, head of public health services at the ministry, explained that detecting the amoeba is akin to finding a needle in a haystack, making routine water quality tests ineffective for this specific threat. Instead, the ministry is placing the responsibility on swimmers, advising them to use nose plugs, avoid submerging their heads, and refrain from activities that force water into the nose, such as digging or stirring up the bottom in shallow areas.

This approach shifts the onus to individuals, as the ministry cannot guarantee the safety of any specific swimming area due to the amoeba's uneven distribution. Israel has recorded four cases of infection since 2022, with two occurring in the summer of 2024 linked to the Hof Gey water park on the Sea of Galilee. The most recent case involved a child who swam at the Koresi beach shortly before being hospitalized.

While acknowledging the severity of the amoeba and recent cases, the ministry is not recommending beach closures at this time, viewing the public health situation as dynamic and subject to ongoing monitoring. The ministry has no definitive timeline for when these recommendations might be lifted, stating that the amoeba is expected to remain in the Sea of Galilee due to its ecological conditions. Ultimately, the decision to enter the water rests with each individual swimmer.