Health officials are warning of a high risk of polio spreading in Gaza after a variant form of the virus was isolated from sewage samples.

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the presence of vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (VDPV) in six samples collected from two locations in Gaza. While no paralysis cases have been reported yet, WHO says the situation creates a perfect storm for the virus to spread due to low vaccination rates and poor sanitation.

Routine childhood immunizations in Gaza had been at 99% before the conflict with Israel that began in October 2023. However, those rates have dropped to 89% by the end of the year.  The war also heavily damaged Gaza's health infrastructure, with only half of hospitals and less than half of primary care facilities fully operational.

The destruction of Gaza's sewage treatment plant and the lack of clean water have created a situation where sewage is overflowing, creating a breeding ground for viruses like polio. Malnutrition is also a concern, further weakening the population's immune system.

In response to the WHO warning, Gaza's health ministry called for an immediate ceasefire, access to clean water, repairs to sewage infrastructure, and measures to reduce overcrowding in displacement camps. (ILKHA)