Boy, 9, Dies After Contracting Brain-Eating Amoeba in Sea of Galilee

A nine-year-old boy has died after contracting a rare and deadly brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, following a swim in the Sea of Galilee approximately two weeks ago. The Ministry of Health confirmed the child's death on Thursday, expressing condolences to the family. The boy had been hospitalized in serious condition at Rambam Health Care Campus and was placed on a ventilator, but his condition worsened, leading to his death.

An epidemiological investigation indicated the child swam at the Kinneret's Kursi beach about a week before his hospitalization. However, the ministry stressed that the exact location of exposure cannot be definitively determined. The infection, known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis, is extremely rare, with fewer than 500 cases reported globally and only three diagnosed in Israel in recent years.

Infection occurs when water containing the amoeba enters the nose, allowing it to travel to the brain. The ministry emphasized that the amoeba cannot be contracted by drinking water and is not transmitted from person to person. The risk is primarily associated with warm freshwater entering the nose forcefully, such as during diving or jumping into water.

To reduce the risk, the Ministry of Health advises avoiding getting water up the nose when swimming in warm freshwater, especially when jumping or diving. Using nose plugs or holding the nose shut is recommended. Stirring up sediment in shallow water, where the amoeba may be more concentrated, should also be avoided.

Despite this tragic case, the ministry reiterated that the disease is very rare and has not issued a general directive to avoid swimming in the Sea of Galilee. They advised that anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, confusion, unusual drowsiness, or altered consciousness after exposure to warm freshwater should seek immediate medical attention and inform healthcare providers about their water exposure.