Gaza Faces Polio Resurgence: WHO Launches Urgent Vaccination Drive
WHO initiates mass polio vaccination in Gaza after first case in 25 years. Campaign faces challenges amid ongoing conflict, aiming to protect 640,000 children under 10 in war-torn conditions.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is set to launch a critical mass vaccination campaign against polio in Gaza on September 1, 2024. This urgent action comes in response to the first confirmed case of polio in the region in 25 years, detected in an 11-month-old boy.
Nevin Abu al-Jidyan, the child's mother, described her son's condition: "All his limbs are now paralyzed. The left side is more rigid. He is even unable to bend over." This case highlights the severe consequences of polio, a disease that primarily affects children under 5 years old.
The reemergence of polio in Gaza presents a significant health threat to the war-torn territory and neighboring areas. Jeremy Konyndyk, president of Refugees International, stated, "If you were to concoct, in a lab, a perfect scenario for the spread of polio, it would look a lot like Gaza today."
Factors contributing to polio's return include:
- Destroyed water and sanitation infrastructure
- Overcrowded living conditions
- Limited access to hygiene facilities
- Contaminated drinking water
The WHO has been monitoring the situation closely since July 2024, when poliovirus was detected in sewage samples from Gaza's southern and central regions. The strain is believed to be linked to one found in Egypt's northern Sinai region.
To combat this threat, the WHO and UNICEF are coordinating a massive vaccination effort. Rik Peeperkorn, head of WHO operations in Gaza and the West Bank, announced limited "humanitarian pauses" to allow for the campaign. The goal is to vaccinate at least 90% of the 640,000 children under 10 years old in Gaza.
Jonathan Crickx, a UNICEF spokesman, emphasized the urgency: "It's absolutely critical that this vaccination campaign is executed in a few days — between five to seven days is what we are asking for."
However, the campaign faces numerous challenges:
- Ensuring safety for families and health workers
- Reaching displaced populations
- Maintaining cold chain for vaccines
- Overcoming potential parental hesitancy
John Kahler, a retired pediatrician and co-founder of MedGlobal, highlighted the psychological toll on families: "Do you want to get your kid a polio vaccine, or do you want to stay hidden in the tent?"
"We live in a place where hygiene levels are completely nonexistent. The water is polluted. Sewage runs between the tents. The place is filled with insects and epidemics. … We live in hell."
The success of this campaign is crucial not only for Gaza but for global polio eradication efforts. As of 2024, wild poliovirus remains endemic in only two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative, launched in 1988, has reduced polio cases by over 99% worldwide.
The international community watches closely as Gaza faces this health crisis amidst ongoing conflict. The outcome of this vaccination campaign could have far-reaching implications for public health in the region and beyond.
