Boy Dies From Brain-Eating Amoeba After Swimming in Sea of Galilee

A 9-year-old boy, Baruch Neriah Giovanni, has died from an infection with the "brain-eating amoeba" Naegleria fowleri, more than two weeks after being hospitalized. The Ministry of Health confirmed the death on Thursday, stating that an epidemiological investigation traced the infection to the boy swimming at Kinneret Beach in the Sea of Galilee about a week before his hospitalization.

Naegleria fowleri is an extremely rare amoeba that naturally lives in freshwater sources and can cause a severe and rapidly progressing brain infection called Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). Infection occurs when water containing the amoeba enters the nose, and it cannot be contracted by drinking water or through person-to-person contact. The risk may increase as water temperatures rise.

Globally, fewer than 500 cases have been reported, with four cases diagnosed in Israel since 2022. The first case was diagnosed in 2022, followed by two more in July 2024 linked to a water park at Kinneret Beach. The current case is the fourth.

In response to the severity of the disease, the Ministry of Health has updated its recommendations for the public. These include using nose plugs, avoiding diving or jumping into the water with one's head submerged, and refraining from activities that force water into the nose under pressure. They also advise against disturbing the water bottom in shallow areas. Clear signage is recommended for beaches.

The ministry emphasized that while the risk of infection is low, the disease is severe with a very high mortality rate, making precautions crucial. These measures align with international recommendations. The ministry also clarified that spot testing of water is not sufficient to determine safety due to the amoeba's uneven distribution.