Gaza Reports First Polio Case in Years in Unvaccinated Child

A 10-month-old child in Gaza's Deir al-Balah has been diagnosed with polio, marking the first case in years. The child, who had not been vaccinated, was confirmed to have the disease after tests were conducted in Amman, Jordan, according to Palestinian health officials. Polio, a potentially fatal disease that can cause paralysis, primarily affects children under five and is usually spread through contaminated water.

Health officials in Gaza have warned that without an urgent cease-fire, they will be unable to halt the spread of polio or treat those affected. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began on October 7. This conflict has resulted in over 40,000 deaths in Gaza and created severe public health challenges.

Polio Virus Detected in Wastewater

Last month, the polio virus was found in wastewater samples from two major cities in Gaza. This discovery came after Gaza had been polio-free for 25 years. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that a variant of type 2 polio was detected in samples from southern Khan Younis and central Deir al-Balah. This variant was linked to a strain last detected in Egypt in 2023.

The WHO also noted that three children in Gaza were found with acute flaccid paralysis, a common symptom of polio. Stool samples from these children have been sent to the Jordan National Polio Laboratory for further testing. The WHO expects more than 1.6 million doses of the polio vaccine to arrive in Gaza by the end of August for vaccination campaigns.

Vaccination Campaigns Amid Conflict

The United Nations health and children's agencies have called for seven-day pauses in fighting to vaccinate 640,000 Palestinian children against polio. These pauses are crucial as the ongoing conflict has severely hampered public health efforts. Children under ten will receive two drops of the oral vaccine against type 2 polio virus during these campaigns.

International mediators are hopeful that a cease-fire agreement is within reach. They recently concluded two days of talks in Qatar and plan to reconvene in Cairo next week. The proposed three-phase plan involves Hamas releasing hostages in exchange for a lasting cease-fire, Israeli forces withdrawing from Gaza, and Palestinians imprisoned by Israel being released.

The humanitarian community has been warning about the re-emergence of polio since the latest war began. The conflict started when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, resulting in around 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages taken. Israel's retaliatory offensive has exacerbated the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The World Health Organisation did not immediately confirm the recent polio case but acknowledged the detection of acute flaccid paralysis among children in Gaza. Health officials stress that without a cease-fire, controlling the spread of polio will be extremely challenging.

Efforts to secure a cease-fire continue as international mediators work towards an agreement to end the fighting and address the public health crisis. The situation remains dire, with urgent action needed to prevent further spread of diseases like polio amidst the ongoing conflict.