The World Health Organization (WHO) is dispatching more than one million polio vaccines to Gaza. This initiative aims to protect children from potential infection following the detection of the virus in sewage samples, as announced by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday.
In an opinion piece published in Britain’s The Guardian newspaper, Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgency of the situation. “While no cases of polio have been recorded yet, without immediate action, it is just a matter of time before it reaches the thousands of children who have been left unprotected,” he stated. He highlighted that children under the age of five, particularly infants under two, are most vulnerable due to disruptions in regular vaccination campaigns caused by over nine months of conflict.
Polio Virus
Poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio, is a highly infectious virus transmitted primarily through the fecal-oral route. It can invade the nervous system, leading to paralysis. Thanks to mass vaccination campaigns, polio cases have decreased by 99% worldwide since 1988, with ongoing efforts aimed at its complete eradication.
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In response to the recent detection of polio remnants in sewage samples, Israel’s military announced on Sunday that it would begin offering polio vaccines to soldiers stationed in the Gaza Strip. This move is part of broader efforts to prevent the spread of the virus within the region.
The health crisis in Gaza extends beyond polio. The United Nations recently reported a widespread increase in cases of Hepatitis A, dysentery, and gastroenteritis, attributed to deteriorating sanitary conditions. Sewage spills near camps for displaced people have exacerbated the public health situation, raising concerns about further outbreaks.
