Gaza City, Gaza Strip — The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners are set to launch a critical mass polio vaccination campaign in Gaza starting Sunday. This urgent measure comes after an 11-month-old boy in the Palestinian enclave contracted Gaza’s first case of polio in 25 years, highlighting a severe public health crisis.
The boy, identified as the first polio case since 1999, is now paralyzed in all limbs. His mother, Nevin Abu al-Jidyan, described the devastating impact, stating, "All his limbs are now paralyzed. The left side is more rigid. He is even unable to bend over. I cannot even help him sit," in a recent telephone interview.
The resurgence of polio, a highly infectious and potentially deadly disease that primarily affects children under five, poses a significant threat to Gaza and neighboring regions. Polio affects the nervous system and is challenging to contain, as most infected individuals either show no symptoms or exhibit only mild flu-like signs, leading to undetected spread.
“There is no treatment for polio, but vaccination can prevent the disease. The only way to stop transmission is through widespread vaccination,” said WHO officials. Historically, polio can result in permanent paralysis in 1 in 200 infections, with up to 10% of those cases leading to death due to immobilization of breathing muscles.
The WHO detected poliovirus in July from sewage samples in Gaza’s southern and central regions. The virus likely spread silently since September last year, exacerbated by Gaza's dire living conditions. The ongoing conflict has devastated the region’s water, sanitation, and health infrastructure, creating a perfect storm for disease spread.
To combat the outbreak, WHO plans to implement a multi-day vaccination campaign with humanitarian pauses to ensure safety and access. Starting this Sunday, the campaign will initially target central Gaza, followed by the southern and northern regions. The pauses, expected to last eight to nine hours daily, aim to allow health workers to administer vaccines effectively.
Rik Peeperkorn, WHO’s head of operations in Gaza and the West Bank, emphasized the urgency, stating, “Vaccinating all or almost all children simultaneously is critical to stopping transmission. However, due to the current security situation and infrastructure damage, reaching the 90% coverage needed might be challenging.”
UNICEF has already dispatched 1.2 million doses of oral polio vaccine to Gaza, with an additional 400,000 doses expected soon. The vaccination drive will require significant logistical coordination, including ensuring safety for health workers and overcoming barriers posed by damaged roads and infrastructure.
Paul Spiegel of the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health noted that security is crucial for the campaign's success. "Ensuring that gangs and disruptive groups do not interfere with vaccination efforts is essential."
Moreover, the public’s willingness to participate in the campaign is another hurdle. With ongoing trauma and instability, many parents may prioritize immediate safety over vaccination.
The polio strain detected in Gaza is linked to a strain in Egypt's northern Sinai region. The spread of this vaccine-derived poliovirus, which can emerge in under-immunized populations, poses a risk of international transmission. Health experts warn that if containment measures fail, the virus could spread beyond Gaza, impacting neighboring regions and potentially leading to a broader outbreak.
Jeffrey Goldhagen of the International Society for Social Pediatrics and Child Health highlighted the urgency: "The risk of further spread is high. This situation requires immediate and effective action to prevent a global health crisis."
The WHO and UNICEF are calling for international support and cooperation to ensure the success of the vaccination campaign. The health and humanitarian crisis in Gaza underscores the need for a concerted global effort to address both the immediate outbreak and the underlying conditions contributing to the resurgence of polio.
As Gaza braces for the vaccination campaign, the international community watches closely, hoping for a swift and effective response to halt the spread of polio and protect vulnerable children in the region.