Two boys diagnosed with cave fever at Rehovot's Kaplan Hospital. After visits to Carmel caves

Two boys who visited the Carmel caves near Haifa with their families were stricken by "cave fever," known among doctors as tick-borne relapsing fever. It is caused by Borrelia bacteria, which live on cave ticks, which are in turn sometimes carried on the backs of porcupines.

A 15-year-old boy was brought Monday to Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot and quickly diagnosed by emergency room doctors as having cave fever.

Last week, Iyar Shmuelevich, a six-year-old boy from Kfar Bilu, was diagnosed with the fever as well. Both had been in the Carmel caves, and both suffered from weakness and high fever.

Complications can, rarely, lead to death. After receiving a large dose of antibiotics, the older boy recovered. The younger one has improved with antibiotics but is still being treated.

Kaplan doctor Uri Bella said the Health Ministry would be asked to look into the infections at the caves...

Source: Judy Siegel-Itzkovich. Two boys diagnosed with cave fever after visits to Carmel caves (12 August 2008) JPost.com [FullText]