The annual Sea of Galilee swim was postponed from September 19 to November 14, following concerns over Naegleria fowleri, also known as the "brain-eating amoeba," after a nine-year-old boy who had swum in the lake was hospitalized in serious condition.
The boy was hospitalized with swelling in his brain and was subsequently sedated and ventilated in intensive care at Rambam Medical Center.
A sample was sent to the Health Ministry laboratory, which confirmed the cause as the amoeba on Saturday night.
According to the ministry, an investigation found that the boy had been swimming at Kursi Beach in the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) about a week before his hospitalization.
Sea of Galilee swim postponed to November
The Jordan Valley Regional Council said the decision to postpone the swim was made following the Health Ministry's announcement and consultations with experts, including the Institute for Lakes and Rivers Research, which regularly monitors the Sea of Galilee.
The event, originally scheduled for September 19, will instead take place on November 14, when the water temperature meets Health Ministry guidelines, according to the council.
Tickets purchased for the original date will automatically remain valid for the new date. Participants who wish to cancel can receive a full refund until one week before the event.
The case has also sparked concern among vacationers ahead of Rosh Hashanah, with tour operators, the Tiberias Municipality, and local hotels receiving calls regarding upcoming vacations. A small number of cancellations have been recorded.
The microscopic amoeba is found in fresh and warm water sources and may cause an infection of the central nervous system if water containing the amoeba enters through the nose and the amoeba reaches the brain.
The ministry emphasized that the infection, while having a high mortality rate, is extremely rare and that it cannot be contracted from drinking the water or from another person.
There have been fewer than 500 cases worldwide, two of which were diagnosed in the US last year, and three of which were diagnosed in Israel in recent years.
Ministry urges public to avoid getting water in the nose where possible
To reduce risk while bathing in fresh, warm water, it is recommended to avoid getting water in the nose as much as possible, especially when jumping, diving, or otherwise submerging one's head in the water.
The Health Ministry recommends closing one's nose or using a nose plug.
Additionally, avoid digging or stirring the bottom in shallow water, where the amoeba may gather in higher concentrations.
If symptoms including fever, pain, significant headaches, nausea, or vomiting, especially combined with neck stiffness, confusion, or unusual drowsiness, and a change in consciousness, appear, the public is urged to seek immediate medical attention and mention their water exposure.