DaysofPal- Health authorities in Gaza have warned of a rapidly worsening outbreak of chickenpox, with more than 53,000 cases recorded since the beginning of the year amid ongoing Israeli restrictions on medicine and health equipment needed in the health sector.
In a statement released Thursday, Zaher al-Wahidi, head of the Palestinian Health Ministry’s health information unit, described the surge as “unprecedented and alarming,” warning that it indicates a loss of control over the spread of the disease.
According to the ministry, infections are rising rapidly inside displacement shelters, where overcrowding and poor living conditions are accelerating transmission amid a collapsed health sector due to the Israeli siege on Gaza.
Health officials said many shelters lack essential medical supplies and adequate sanitation, increasing the risk of further spread among displaced populations.
“The rate of spread is very high,” al-Wahidi said, noting that a combination of limited healthcare services, high population density, and deteriorating humanitarian conditions has created an environment conducive to outbreaks.
The Gaza Strip has experienced a broader rise in communicable diseases in recent months, with chickenpox among the most widespread, as ongoing Israeli genocide and mass displacement continue to strain an already fragile healthcare system.
Officials also pointed to shortages of clean water, weakened sewage infrastructure, and limited vaccination coverage as key drivers of the outbreak, affecting both children and adults.
The ministry warned that without urgent intervention and improved living conditions, the health crisis could worsen further, potentially leading to a wider spread of infectious diseases.
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