(haipo) The Ministry of Health regretfully announced that a child who was hospitalized at Rambam Hospital in Haifa has died after contracting encephalitis as a result of infection with a rare amoeba, Naegleria fowleri. An epidemiological investigation revealed that the child had been swimming at Kursi Beach in the Sea of Galilee about a week before his hospitalization.
Laboratory tests confirmed: rare amoeba of the Naegleria fowleri type
A test conducted in the Ministry of Health laboratories confirmed that it was an amoeba of the Naegleria fowleri type, which causes encephalitis. An epidemiological investigation conducted revealed that the child had been swimming at Kursi Beach in the Sea of Galilee about a week before being hospitalized at Rambam Hospital. The Ministry of Health expressed its deep condolences to the family. Ministry of Health spokeswoman Shira Solomon said that additional information about the amoeba can be found on the Ministry of Health website.
Extremely rare disease – less than 500 cases worldwide
This is an extremely rare disease. According to data provided by the Ministry of Health, less than 500 cases of infection with this type of amoeba have been reported worldwide. In Israel, only three cases of the disease have been diagnosed in recent years. The Naegleria fowleri amoeba is found in warm freshwater sources, and it can cause severe encephalitis. The Ministry of Health referred the public to the ministry's website for detailed information about the amoeba, the routes of infection, and the necessary precautions.
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