Health Ministry Declare Polio Epidemic across Gaza

Gaza, MINA – Gaza’s health ministry has declared a polio epidemic across the Palestinian enclave, blaming Israel’s devastating military offensive for the spread of the deadly virus.

In a statement on Telegram, the ministry on Monday said the situation “poses a health threat to the residents of Gaza and neighboring countries” – the latest sign of a worsening public health emergency caused by Israel’s genocidal war since October, Al Jazeera reported.

Calling the epidemic a “setback” to the global polio eradication program, the ministry called for an immediate intervention to end the[Israeli aggression and find radical solutions to lack of potable water and personal hygiene, damaged sewage networks and removal of tonnes of rubbish and solid waste.

Poliomyelitis, which is spread mainly through the fecal-oral route, is a highly infectious virus that can invade the nervous system and cause paralysis. Cases of polio have declined by 99 percent worldwide since 1988, thanks to mass vaccination campaigns, and continued efforts to eradicate it everywhere.

Earlier this month, Gaza’s health ministry said it had detected “component poliovirus type 2” in coordination with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The virus was found in sewage “that collects and flows between the tents of the displaced,” said the ministry.

Already scarce supplies of drinking water in the densely-populated Gaza Strip are at risk of being contaminated by the virus.

On Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said it was sending more than one million polio vaccines to Gaza to be administered over the coming weeks to prevent children from being infected after the virus was detected in sewage samples.

Israel’s war in Gaza has damaged and destroyed sewage and water systems, and sewage has spilled into the streets near some camps for the displaced Palestinians.

Last week, the UN reported that apart from the detection of the polio virus, there has been a widespread increase in cases of Hepatitis A, dysentery and gastroenteritis as sanitary conditions worsen in Gaza. (T/RE1/P2)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)