The Gaza health ministry has declared a polio outbreak, blaming the severe military assault by Israel for the virus’s spread.
In a statement on Telegram, the ministry on Monday said the situation “poses a significant health threat to Gaza’s residents and neighboring regions”, worsening the public health emergency caused by Israel’s actions since October.
The ministry described the outbreak as a “major obstacle” to worldwide polio eradication efforts, emphasizing the need for “swift action to halt the Israeli aggression and tackle underlying issues such as inadequate access to clean drinking water, poor sanitation, damaged sewage systems, and waste accumulation, which are exacerbating the crisis”, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Poliomyelitis, primarily transmitted through the fecal-oral route, is a highly contagious virus that can lead to paralysis.
Thanks to widespread vaccination efforts, global polio cases have declined dramatically by 99 percent since 1988, marking a significant milestone in the fight against this debilitating disease.
However, Gaza’s health ministry recently detected “component poliovirus type 2” in sewage with UNICEF’s coordination, especially in areas where displaced residents are living in tents, raising concerns about the contamination of Gaza’s scarce drinking water.
In response to the polio outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) is dispatching over one million polio vaccine doses to Gaza to prevent additional cases.
The Israeli military has confirmed the presence of the poliovirus and plans to vaccinate soldiers in the area.
The ongoing conflict has severely compromised Gaza’s water and sewage infrastructure, resulting in sewage spills on streets adjacent to displacement camps, exacerbating the risk of waterborne diseases.
According to a UN report, the polio outbreak coincides with a surge in cases of Hepatitis A, dysentery, and gastroenteritis, highlighting the dire need for improved sanitation and hygiene conditions.
Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary reported from Deir-al Balah in central Gaza, stating, “This is only the beginning of the wave of diseases the Gaza Strip will face. Palestinians have been living in makeshift tents without bathrooms, hygiene, or access to water and sanitation. Sewage is everywhere.”
Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan, a pediatric intensive care physician, called the presence of the polio virus in Gaza’s sewage a “ticking time bomb.”
She said, “Under normal circumstances, a polio case would be isolated but that’s not feasible in Gaza. People are crowded in refugee camps without vaccines for at least nine months, including children who should have been vaccinated and adults who need boosters during an outbreak, as well as healthcare workers.”
