Baby contracts polio, first case in Gaza in 25 years

A 10-month-old baby is partially paralyzed after contracting polio in Gaza, United Nations officials said.

Gaza, now in its 11th month of war, has not had a case of polio in 25 years, according to the UN, although type 2 poliovirus was detected in samples taken from the territory’s sewage in June.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was “gravely concerned” and confirmed that efforts were underway to launch a vaccination programme in the coming weeks.

The 10-month-old, who was not vaccinated, is said to be in stable condition after developing paralysis in one leg.

Poliovirus, which is most commonly transmitted through sewage and contaminated water, is highly contagious.

It can cause disfigurement and paralysis, and is potentially fatal. It mainly affects children under five years old.

Aid groups have blamed the resurgence of polio in Gaza on the disruption of childhood vaccination programmes and massive damage caused by the war to water and sanitation systems.

In an attempt to contain the spread of the virus, the UN has called for a week-long pause in fighting to carry out a polio vaccination campaign for more than 640,000 children under the age of 10.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that “hundreds of thousands of children in Gaza are at risk.”

He said that for the campaign to be successful, the transportation of vaccines and necessary equipment should be facilitated, as well as the entry of polio experts into Gaza.

He also said there was a need for sufficient fuel, increased cash flow, reliable communications and the safety of health workers and people visiting health facilities.

WHO has approved the distribution of 1.6 million doses of vaccine, UNICEF is coordinating their delivery with cold storage units and UNRWA medical teams will administer the vaccines upon their arrival in Gaza.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said the re-emergence of the virus in the Gaza Strip after 25 years is “another stark reminder of how chaotic, desperate and dangerous the situation is.”

On August 18, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that since the start of the war, 282,126 vials of polio vaccine, enough for 2,821,260 doses, had been sent to Gaza.

In the coming weeks, 60,000 additional vaccines will be delivered to vaccinate more than one million children.

According to the Israeli army, entry into the Gaza Strip for vaccinations and epidemic prevention is facilitated by the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT),

“This includes the entry of medical teams and vaccines against the polio virus,” the Israeli army said.

Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7 by Hamas gunmen, in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.

More than 40,265 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-controlled health ministry, which does not provide details on civilian and combat deaths. The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) says most of the victims were women and children.