A nine-year-old boy is hospitalized in critical condition at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, sedated and on a ventilator in intensive care after developing brain inflammation caused by a rare amoeba, Israel's Ministry of Health announced.
Laboratory tests conducted overnight confirmed that the child contracted Naegleria fowleri, a microscopic organism found primarily in warm freshwater. According to preliminary epidemiological investigation, the boy swam at Kurssi Beach on the Sea of Galilee approximately one week before his hospitalization.
Health officials emphasized the extreme rarity of the condition. Globally, fewer than 500 cases have ever been documented, with only two diagnosed in the United States in the past year. Israel has recorded three cases in recent years.
The disease carries a high mortality rate. Naegleria fowleri is a microscopic amoeba that thrives in warm freshwater environments. In exceptionally rare instances, it can cause severe infection of the central nervous system. Infection occurs when water containing the amoeba enters through the nose, allowing the organism to travel to the brain. The disease cannot be contracted by drinking water and does not spread from person to person.
To reduce risk when swimming in warm freshwater, health authorities recommend avoiding water entry into the nose as much as possible, especially when jumping, diving, or submerging the head. Swimmers can hold their nose closed or use nose clips. Officials also advise against disturbing or stirring up sediment in shallow water, where the amoeba may be present in higher concentrations.
Anyone who develops fever, severe headache, nausea, or vomiting after exposure to warm freshwater should seek immediate medical attention, particularly if symptoms progress to include stiff neck, confusion, unusual drowsiness, or altered consciousness. When seeking care, patients should inform medical staff of their water exposure. While the disease is extremely rare, it can progress rapidly when it does occur.
