A new polio outbreak in Gaza, fueled by the ongoing war and resulting deteriorating conditions, has raised alarms that a wider epidemic could spread across the border into Israel.Polio was first detected in Gaza’s wastewater in mid-July, and a first childhood case was diagnosed over the weekend. Unvaccinated infants, soldiers, and hostages are considered at high risk.

In response, the UN has announced plans to launch two rounds of a polio vaccination campaign across Gaza at the end of August and in September. But health experts warn that the ongoing conflict poses major challenges to rolling out an effective immunization drive.

“The already catastrophic situation in Gaza is worsening amid repeated waves of displacement, overcrowding, insecurity, and crumbling infrastructure,” UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric . “Over 86% of the Gaza Strip has been placed under evacuation orders since October 2023. “

Dujarric said UN Secretary-General António Guterres is closely following negotiations in Doha aimed at ending the 10-month-old war in Gaza. The UN is calling for a ceasefire to allow urgent vaccination efforts to prevent a wider polio epidemic that could affect both Gaza and Israel.

Public health officials warn that the combination of low vaccination rates, displacement, and continued conflict creates ideal conditions for the polio virus to spread rapidly. A successful immunization campaign will be critical to containing the outbreak before it spirals out of control.

Vinod Kumar (UAE)