The Gaza Strip has confirmed its first case of polio in 25 years, detected in an unvaccinated 10-month-old child in Deir al-Balah. This alarming development comes amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes and a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the region. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that the case was confirmed after tests were conducted in Amman, Jordan.In response to this crisis, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urgently called for a seven-day humanitarian ceasefire to facilitate a critical polio vaccination campaign. The campaign aims to vaccinate over 640,000 children under the age of 10 with two drops of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2). The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF are planning to launch two rounds of vaccination campaigns in late August and September 2024.However, the vaccination effort faces significant challenges due to the ongoing conflict. Guterres emphasized that at least 95% vaccination coverage will be needed during each round of the two-round campaign to prevent polio spread, given the widespread devastation in Gaza. The success of the campaign requires facilitating the transport of vaccines and cooling equipment, ensuring the entry of polio experts into Gaza, and establishing reliable internet and mobile phone services.The situation in Gaza remains dire, with the Palestinian Health Ministry reporting over 40,000 casualties since October 7, 2023. The ongoing conflict has severely impacted the healthcare system, with only 16 of 36 hospitals partially functioning. UNRWA has described the situation as ‘families trapped in an endless nightmare of death and destruction on an impressive scale’.As international mediators express hope for a potential ceasefire agreement, the re-emergence of polio in Gaza threatens not only the local population but also neighboring countries, underscoring the urgent need for a humanitarian pause to address this public health crisis.
Key points
- Gaza has confirmed its first polio case in 25 years in an unvaccinated 10-month-old child.
- The UN is urgently calling for a seven-day humanitarian ceasefire to vaccinate over 640,000 children against polio.
- The ongoing conflict poses significant challenges to the vaccination campaign, including safety concerns and logistical issues.
- The re-emergence of polio threatens both Gaza and neighboring countries, highlighting the need for immediate action.
Contradictions👾While most sources report a single confirmed polio case, one source suggests that Gaza has been declared a ‘polio epidemic zone’, which may imply multiple cases or a more widespread threat.
