5 teens suspected to have leptospirosis after Jordan River visit
Five 14-17 year olds hospitalized on suspicion the caught the infection after kayaking tour, after infection previously only found in Golan area; alarm in Upper Galilee Regional Council over possible drop in tourism; Mey Eden water company halts production over irregular results in water sample.
Five students aged 14-17 have been hospitalized on suspicion they caught leptospirosis during a trip to the Jordan River, with concerns other students may have also been afflicted.
The five visited a kayaking site at Jordan Park as part of youth movement educational tour two weeks ago.
Following the trip, they began showing similar symptoms to those shown by Israelis who visited streams in the Golan Heights and later diagnosed with leptospirosis. They were hospitalized at the Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak and received antibiotic treatment.
So far, 12 people have contracted the leptospirosis infection and 50 others are suspected of having caught it.
Professor Eli Somech, head of the Pediatric Division at the Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center, said that “two of the boys were hospitalized on Monday evening and two more on Tuesday.
“They displayed clinical symptoms of leptospirosis and their lab tests results were suspicious and are now being treated with suitable antibiotics and fluids. The Mayanei Hayeshua ER is preparing for admitting other students in the upcoming 24 hours.”
Somech said the hospital reported the incident to the Ministry of Health, emphasizing the students visited a different region to the one other patients who contracted the infections had. The ministry published a warning to all visitors to the Golan Heights streams, but the current suspected leptospirosis patients kayaked in the Galilee Jordan river in close proximity to the Sea of Galilee.
Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center Director Prof. Mordchai Ravid said that the lab tests were sent for analyzing and final results will arrive in two days.
In the past few days, many Israelis who have visited the Golan Heights streams arrived in hospitals reporting possible leptospirosis symptoms, including fever, headache, muscle aches and fatigue. They received antibiotic treatment and some were discharged to their homes.
The reason for the infection outbreak is yet unclear. It is thought to be related to cattle herds that graze in the Golan Heights and contaminated streams with feces, as well as low volume flow due to the continuing drought.
Prof. Michal Hovers, who runs the infectious diseases unit at the Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba, explained that the infection is caused by the Leptospira bacteria, who originates in animals.
"Animals infected the waters and streams, and people who either bathe there or come into contact with mice urine in outdoor habitats can catch this infection," she said in an interview with Ynet.
"Symptoms can be mild in some cases but in others the infection can become severe and lead to kidney and liver failure,” she continued.
Prof. Hovers added that symptoms include fever, flu-like symptoms and sometimes corneal infections but emphasized that not all symptoms require admission to the hospital.
The Upper Galilee Regional Council fears visitors would abandon the region. “A discussion we had today with the Health Ministry determined that bathing or kayaking in the Galilee streams in completely safe. The news published this morning that Galilee streams are going to be closed are false," the council said in a statement.
The council added that “The Israel Nature and Parks Authority is also unaware of any guidelines from the Health Ministry about a leptospirosis scare in the Galilee streams."
However, it appears the Health Ministry is expected to order the closing of other streams on Wednesday.
The Golan Heights stream infection also disrupted the Mey Eden mineral water company’s supply. Customers have called customer service and complained about the shortage.
The Mey Eden water company stopped production on Wednsday morning after irregularities were found in a sample taken from the Golan Heights spring that provides water to the company.
Company officials said on Tuesday that “in the last month, we had to stop the production twice for a few days at a time, after the spring water test results deviated from normal. The company resumed production only after it was certain the water was clean and safe, and after the Ministry of Health approved.”
The Ministry of Health said that “during the summer two irregularities were detected in the Mey Eden spring water. From the moment irregularities were discovered the factory immediately stopped production and marketing, until August 6 when standard result resumed. Since then repeating examinations showed no irregular results”.
The ministry further added that the irregularities found had nothing to do with leptospirosis and were not reported further.
