Boy Dies From Rare Brain-Eating Amoeba After Swimming in Sea of Galilee
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS by baba
A nine-year-old Israeli boy has died from a rare brain-eating amoeba after swimming in the Sea of Galilee. The Ministry of Health confirmed the death and issued recommendations to prevent further infections.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Nine-year-old boy dies from rare brain-eating amoeba.
- Infection occurred after swimming in the Sea of Galilee.
- The amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, is extremely rare globally.
- Health Ministry advises precautions against water entering the nose.
- Disease has a high mortality rate and progresses rapidly.
Israel's Ministry of Health announced on Thursday the death of a nine-year-old boy, Baruch Neria, who had been hospitalized at Rambam Medical Center after contracting a rare brain-eating amoeba. The child was diagnosed with encephalitis caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba.
An epidemiological investigation revealed that the boy had swum in the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) at the Kursi beach about a week before his hospitalization. The Ministry of Health stated that this is an extremely rare disease, with fewer than 500 cases reported globally and only three diagnosed in Israel in recent years.
The Naegleria fowleri amoeba is primarily found in warm, freshwater sources. Infection occurs when water containing the amoeba enters the nose, allowing it to travel to the brain. The disease has a high mortality rate and progresses rapidly. It does not spread through drinking water or person-to-person contact.
To mitigate the risk of infection, the Ministry of Health advises avoiding getting water up the nose while swimming in warm freshwater, especially when jumping, diving, or submerging the head. Using nose plugs or pinching the nose shut is recommended. Stirring up sediment in shallow water, where the amoeba may be more concentrated, should also be avoided.
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