The detection of poliovirus in sewage samples from Gaza has raised serious health concerns for thousands of people living in overcrowded displaced persons’ camps. The highly infectious disease, which can cause deformities and paralysis, poses a significant risk in the war-torn territory.
The Gaza health ministry, in collaboration with UNICEF, confirmed the presence of poliovirus following tests conducted in response to the deteriorating sanitary conditions exacerbated by the ongoing Israeli military offensive on October 7.
The Israeli health ministry said that poliovirus type 2 was identified in Gaza sewage samples analyzed in an Israeli laboratory, a finding corroborated by the World Health Organization.
“The presence of poliovirus in wastewater that collects and flows between displacement camp tents and inhabited areas due to the destruction of infrastructure marks a new health disaster,” the Gaza ministry stated.
The ministry highlighted the severe overcrowding, scarce water supplies contaminated with sewage, and the accumulation of rubbish as key factors contributing to the public health crisis. It criticized Israel’s blockade on hygiene supplies, stating it “creates a suitable environment for the spread of different diseases.”
The detection of the virus in wastewater poses a “real health disaster” and places thousands at risk of contracting polio, the ministry warned. They called for an immediate cessation of hostilities to allow the delivery of safe water and the resumption of sewage treatment operations.
Local authorities in Deir el-Balah reported that wastewater treatment stations have been shut down due to a lack of fuel, warning that roads may soon be flooded with sewage, endangering 700,000 civilians, most of them displaced, with the risk of sewage-borne diseases.
The mounting health crisis underscores the urgent need for humanitarian aid and infrastructure repairs in Gaza, as the war continues to exacerbate public health and safety concerns for the besieged population.
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