Should you still swim in Sea of Galilee after boy contracts ‘brain-eating amoeba’? Expert says ‘absolutely yes’
Following the hospitalization of the 9-year-old due to an infection from a rare amoeba, Prof. Itamar Grotto details the rare phenomenon
A 9-year-old boy was hospitalized in serious condition at Rambam Health Care Campus on Sunday night after contracting a rare “brain-eating amoeba” infection that caused acute encephalitis.
The child became infected after swimming at Kursi Beach on the Sea of Galilee.
Despite the case, international public health expert Prof. Itamar Grotto said he would “absolutely” still take his children swimming in the lake, stressing that such infections remain extremely rare.
“I would tell them not to get water into their noses, meaning no jumping or diving,” Grotto said. He added that concerned swimmers could use nose clips as an additional precaution.
Grotto said there was no need to close the beach, noting that the amoebas can occur in freshwater lakes under specific temperature conditions.
“This is something that is expected to happen,” he said. “We know that it occurs in freshwater lakes, and we are seeing an increase in cases around the world.”
Grotto linked that rise to climate change, explaining that warmer water can create conditions that allow the amoebas to reproduce more easily. However, he emphasized that infections are still “very, very rare.”
Children between the ages of 7 and 13 are considered more vulnerable, according to Grotto. He advised seeking medical attention if symptoms such as a high fever, stiff neck or vomiting develop after swimming.