The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed serious concerns about the potential for polio outbreaks in the Gaza Strip due to the poor sanitation conditions in the area. Dr. Ayadil Saparbekov, the Head of Health Emergencies for the WHO in the occupied Palestinian territory, highlighted the high risk of the spread of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus 2 in Gaza, primarily due to the dire water sanitation situation.
Last month, traces of the highly infectious polio virus were discovered in sewage in Gaza, posing a significant threat to thousands of Palestinians who could be at risk of contracting the disease, which can lead to paralysis. While no cases of paralysis have been reported so far, residents are urged to be vigilant against the potential threat of polio.
