Health officials in Gaza have reported the first case of polio in a 10-month-old child in the city of Deir al-Balah. This marks the first instance of polio in the coastal enclave in years, raising concerns about the potential spread of the disease in the region.
After the child exhibited symptoms of polio, tests conducted in Jordan confirmed the diagnosis. Polio, a potentially fatal and paralyzing disease, primarily affects children under the age of 5 and is typically transmitted through contaminated water sources.
While the World Health Organization has not yet officially confirmed the case, U.N. health and children's agencies have called for a seven-day pause in the ongoing conflict to vaccinate 640,000 Palestinian children against polio. The virus was recently detected in wastewater in two major cities in Gaza, which had previously been polio-free for 25 years.
The resurgence of polio in Gaza has been attributed to the deteriorating humanitarian situation resulting from the Israel-Hamas conflict. The conflict, which began on Oct. 7, has led to significant casualties and created a public health emergency in the region.
In July, a variant of the polio virus was identified in wastewater samples from southern Khan Younis and central Deir al-Balah, linked to a strain last seen in Egypt in 2023. While the WHO has not confirmed polio in Gaza, three children have exhibited symptoms of acute flaccid paralysis, a common indicator of the disease.
The situation in Gaza underscores the urgent need for coordinated efforts to contain the spread of polio and protect vulnerable populations, particularly children. Health officials are working to address the public health crisis and prevent further outbreaks of the disease in the region.
