A potentially deadly microscopic threat has emerged once again in Israel, leaving health officials on high alert and a young boy fighting for his life. Just weeks after a tragic fatality, another case of the rare but deadly "brain-eating amoeba" has been suspected, this time affecting a 10-year-old child in northern Israel.
Today (Wednesday), the Israeli Ministry of Health announced that a 10-year-old boy is currently sedated and on ventilator support at Ziv Hospital in Safed, a city in northern Israel. The child is battling encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, suspected to be caused by Naegleria fowleri, colloquially known as the "brain-eating amoeba."
Hospital officials have sent samples to the Ministry of Health laboratories for urgent testing to confirm the presence of this rare but lethal microorganism.
This alarming case comes on the heels of a tragic incident earlier this month. A 26-year-old man lost his life at Beilinson Hospital after contracting the same amoeba while visiting a beach on the Sea of Galilee, a popular freshwater lake in northern Israel.
Dr. Ayana Dvir, a senior physician in the neurosurgical intensive care unit at Beilinson Hospital, shed light on the challenges posed by this rare infection. "This is such a rare disease that it is usually not even in the basket of possibilities that are suspected," Dr. Dvir explained. "Because of this, it is usually identified only after death."
The amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, typically resides in warm freshwater environments such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs. It can also be found in soil and poorly maintained swimming pools. Infection occurs when contaminated water enters the body through the nose, allowing the amoeba to travel to the brain.
While rare, the "brain-eating amoeba" has been reported worldwide, with approximately 400 known cases globally. The disease has a staggeringly high mortality rate, making early detection and treatment crucial for survival.
The coming days will be critical for the young patient in Safed, as medical professionals do everything in their power to combat this microscopic but formidable foe.
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