The Ministry of Health is investigating the suspected presence of a microsporidium parasite in the water of the Sea of Galilee – which may cause eye infections and even damage to vision.
This is after in the last few days the Ministry of Health received a report from ophthalmologists, about a large number of patients who were required to be hospitalized, suffering from severe inflammation of the cornea, corneal scarring and in more serious cases vision impairment.
The examination reveals that to date 29 patients have been hospitalized in a number of different hospitals with corneal lesions that are characteristic of microsporidium infection.
The Ministry of Health started an epidemiological investigation from which it has emerged so far that at least some of the patients bathed on different beaches of the Sea of Galilee.
In light of the data, which as mentioned is preliminary data that is still under review, the Ministry of Health recommends using binoculars or swimming goggles when bathing in the Sea of Galilee to avoid direct eye contact with the water.
In the statement of the Ministry of Health, it was stated that “any person who bathed in the Sea of Galilee and suffers from eye inflammation, redness, pain, the feeling of a ‘foreign body’ in the eyes, is asked to contact an ophthalmologist for diagnosis and treatment. There is no risk in drinking Kinneret water.”
The Ministry of Health continues to check and will update the public. “The Ministry of Health and the Water Authority are operating the laboratory arrays in efforts to locate the cause of the phenomenon and will update you with the findings.”