Health Ministry declares polio epidemic in Gaza

In a statement released on Monday, the ministry said the situation “poses a health threat to the residents of Gaza and neighboring countries.”

The statement also called it a “setback” to the global polio eradication program.

The ministry called for an “immediate intervention to end the aggression and find radical solutions” to the issues of lack of potable water and personal hygiene, damaged sewage networks and removal of tones of rubbish and solid waste.

The alarming revelation came after the polio virus was detected in samples of sewage that is starting to take over Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli onslaught.

The World Health Organization has recently warned of a high risk of the polio virus spreading across the war-wracked strip due to the poor sanitary conditions. It added if the outbreak happens in Gaza, it may spill over internationally at a very high rate.

Palestinian health officials said thousands of people in crowded tents are now at risk of contracting the highly infectious disease, which causes deformities and paralysis.

They said sewage is flowing between the tents used by tens of thousands of displaced people across Gaza.
Gaza officials said this week that wastewater treatment stations have been turned off due to a lack of fuel.
Doctors in Gaza say scabies, chicken pox, skin rashes and lice are also spreading fast.

UN agencies have frequently warned of the risk of cholera and other more serious diseases becoming epidemics in Gaza.