Israel’s Health Ministry said Tuesday that it does not currently plan to close beaches at the Kinneret despite confirming the presence of the potentially deadly Naegleria fowleri amoeba in the lake and another recent case of infection.

The rare organism, commonly known as the “brain-eating amoeba,” can cause a severe and potentially fatal infection when contaminated water enters the nose, allowing the amoeba to reach the brain. The ministry stressed that infection does not occur from drinking Kinneret water and cannot spread from person to person.

Prof. Sigal Sadetzki, head of Public Health Services at the Health Ministry, said officials already know the amoeba is present in the Kinneret and that its concentration is extremely low. She explained that routine sampling would provide little useful information because locating the organism in such a large body of water is like “looking for a needle in a haystack.”

The ministry is advising swimmers to take precautions, including using nose clips and avoiding diving, jumping into the water, putting their heads underwater or participating in activities that could force water into the nose. Swimmers are also being advised not to disturb the lakebed in shallow areas.

Four cases involving Naegleria fowleri have been diagnosed in Israel since 2022. Two previous cases occurred during the summer of 2024 and were linked to the Gai Beach water park near the Kinneret. In the latest case, an epidemiological investigation found that the infected child had visited Kursi Beach approximately a week before being hospitalized.

Despite the potentially deadly nature of the infection, officials stressed that the disease remains extremely rare and said there is currently no directive to close the Kinneret’s beaches.

The Health Ministry said it will continue monitoring developments and adjust its guidance if necessary. Officials also said there is currently no clear timetable for when the precautionary recommendations could be lifted because the amoeba’s presence is tied to ecological conditions in the lake.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)