More than 1 million children in the Gaza Strip are at risk of contracting type 2 poliovirus, a highly infectious disease that can lead to paralysis and even death. The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced plans to send 1.2 million polio vaccines to Gaza after the virus was detected in wastewater samples taken from displacement camps in the northern governorates of Khan Younis and Deir Al-Balah. However, any mass polio immunization campaign in Gaza would face challenges due to the absence of a ceasefire.
The WHO’s regional director, Hanan Balkhy, warned that the virus could spread further, including across borders, unless agencies acted quickly to vaccinate the population. Children under the age of 5, and especially infants, are most at risk from polio, as many missed out on regular vaccination campaigns that had taken place in Gaza before the conflict began.
Polio is a highly contagious disease that spreads through contact with the feces, saliva, or nasal mucus of an infected individual. It attacks nerves in the spinal cord and brain stem, leading to partial or total paralysis within hours. It can also immobilize chest muscles, causing trouble breathing and even death.
In Gaza, overcrowding, a lack of clean water and hygiene materials, a deteriorating health system, and the destruction of sanitation plants have all contributed to the reemergence of type 2 poliovirus. The UN estimates that at least 70% of Gaza’s water and sanitation plants have been damaged or destroyed since the start of the conflict.
The Israeli military’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip has caused major damage to schools, hospitals, and utilities. The healthcare system in Gaza has been severely affected, with just 16 out of 36 health facilities remaining partially functioning. The continuous movement of families in Gaza has made it difficult for aid agencies to locate and identify unvaccinated children.
Despite calls for a ceasefire to allow medics to roll out a vaccination campaign, the possibility of a ceasefire appears no closer. The Israeli military has issued new evacuation orders for several parts of northern Gaza, further hampering the rollout of a vaccination campaign. The UN reported that 86% of Gaza is under Israeli evacuation orders, and about 1.9 million of Gaza’s population have been displaced multiple times since the conflict began.
Even if the planned 1.2 million vaccines are successfully brought into Gaza, it will be a huge logistical challenge to ensure their successful deployment. The vaccines must be stored within a limited temperature range from the moment they are manufactured until they are administered.
The WHO’s Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, emphasized the need for a ceasefire or at least a few days of calm to protect Gaza’s children. As of July 7, the WHO has recorded a surge in infectious diseases in Gaza, primarily due to a lack of clean drinking water and the destruction of a critical water facility in Rafah, southern Gaza.
In conclusion, the reemergence of type 2 poliovirus in Gaza poses a significant threat to the population, especially children. The WHO’s plans to send 1.2 million polio vaccines to Gaza are crucial in preventing an outbreak. However, the ongoing conflict and the destruction of infrastructure make it challenging to carry out a mass immunization campaign. A ceasefire or temporary truce is necessary to ensure the safe access of medics to displaced communities and the successful deployment of vaccines. The international community must prioritize the health and well-being of Gaza’s children and work towards a resolution to protect them from the devastating effects of polio.