Sharon and Oren Goldstein, a couple from Yokneam, south-east of Haifa, recently faced a life-threatening battle with malaria after visiting their daughter in a remote village in Ghana. Despite being advised by a travel clinic in Israel to take anti-malaria medication, the couple chose not to follow through, relying instead on local assurances that there was no risk of contracting the disease.
The couple had traveled to Ghana to visit their daughter Michal, a master’s student in African studies, to witness her project on women’s empowerment—an initiative that teaches local girls to surf as a means of fostering self-confidence and empowerment.
Malaria is widespread in Africa and caused by a parasite transmitted through the bite of the Anopheles mosquito, explains Dr. Ami Neuberger, Director of both the Department of Internal Medicine D and the Traveler Medicine Service at Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) in Haifa, Israel. It is one of the most deadly diseases in the world, killing over half a million people annually.
The parasite multiplies inside red blood cells, and without prompt treatment, the risk of complications and death increases. Fortunately, preventive medication is highly effective and can save lives. However, Neuberger notes that most malaria cases treated in Israel, including at Rambam, involve patients who either did not take preventive medication or failed to follow the recommended dosage.
Preventive treatment typically begins a day or two before travel, continues throughout the trip, and extends for a period after returning home. Before their trip, the Goldsteins consulted a specialized travel clinic and were advised to take anti-malaria pills one day before arriving in Ghana. However, upon reaching their destination, locals assured them there were no mosquitoes or malaria in the area, leading the couple to stop taking their medication.
By the time they returned to Israel, both Sharon and Oren were experiencing fever and weakness. Seeking medical help, they visited the Green-Wagner Department of Emergency Medicine at Rambam, where Sharon tested positive for malaria and was immediately hospitalized. Oren was also admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine as a precautionary measure. Subsequent testing revealed that Oren had contracted a more severe strain of malaria, and his condition could have been life-threatening without timely medical intervention.
Dr. Neuberger highlights that while the Anopheles mosquito still exists in Israel, the malaria parasite has been eradicated. “The disease is particularly dangerous for children and adults over 40, but anyone contracting malaria for the first time faces a very unpleasant experience,” he continues. “Most malaria cases treated in Israel are linked to infections acquired in Africa, with fewer cases originating in Asia or Latin America.” He stresses that early diagnosis is critical, as the parasite rapidly multiplies in red blood cells, “Without treatment, red blood cells can be severely damaged, increasing the risk of complications and death if intervention is delayed.”
The Goldsteins are now recovering and reflect on their ordeal as a sobering lesson. Their experience underscores the importance of adhering to medical advice, particularly when traveling to areas where life-threatening diseases like malaria are prevalent.