The Ministry of Health reported a 25-year-old man in critical condition after contracting primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, an illness caused by the amoeba naegleria fowleri. With suspicions he developed the disease at Kinneret beach. The disease has an almost 100% fatality rate.
On Thursday, the Health Ministry reported that a 25-year-old man from central Israel was admitted to the hospital due to an highly unusual infection caused by a brain-consuming amoeba.
The young man is in a critical state in the hospital due to primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, which is caused by the amoeba naegleria fowleri. Naegleria fowleri is commonly present in fresh water, puddles, and stagnant water of different kinds, primarily infecting individuals through the nose while engaging in activities like swimming. The cells of the amoeba feed on cells from the brain of the victim.
There have been approximately 450 documented cases of naegleriasis due to naegleria fowleri reported globally. Almost all cases result in death. The disease has only been survived by seven individuals.
A probe revealed that the patient probably got infected at Gai Beach on the Kinneret. The Health Ministry is still looking into the situation, and inspectors from the environmental health department are testing and analysing the water in the vicinity.
