Israel reports brain-eating amoeba case in a 10-year-old child weeks after man's death

The Israel Ministry of Health is reporting another Naegleria fowleri infection just weeks after a man died from the brain-eating amoeba.

Health officials say a 10-year-old boy was suffering from encephalitis, is sedated and ventilated in intensive care at Ziv Hospital. This morning, a sample was sent to the Ministry of Health laboratories to also test the suspicion that the child was sick as a result of a rare amoeba (Naegleria fowleri).

The Health Ministry said he was believed to have caught the extremely dangerous amoeba at the same location on the shores of the Sea of Galilee as a man who died from the brain infection earlier this month.

The boy is only the third person ever diagnosed in Israel with the extremely rare parasitic infection.

The Health Ministry ordered closure of Gai Beach in Sea of Galilee until further notice.

Naegleria fowleri is a microscopic amoeba which is a single-celled living organism. It can cause a rare and devastating infection of the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). The amoeba is commonly found in warm freshwater such as lakes, rivers, ponds and canals.

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Infections can happen when contaminated water enters the body through the nose. Once the amoeba enters the nose, it travels to the brain where it causes PAM (which destroys brain tissue) and is usually fatal. Infections usually occur when it is hot for prolonged periods of time, which results in higher water temperatures and lower water levels.

Naegleria fowleri infections are rare. Most  infections occur from exposure to contaminated recreational water. Cases due to the use of neti pots and the practice of ablution have been documented.

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You cannot be infected with Naegleria fowleri by drinking contaminated water and the amoeba is not found in salt water.

Initial symptoms of PAM usually start within 1 to 7 days after infection. The initial symptoms may include headache, fever, nausea, or vomiting.

Other symptoms can include stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, seizures, and hallucinations. After the start of symptoms, the disease progresses rapidly.