A new wave of fear has gripped Gaza after the first polio case in 25 years was detected in the war-ravaged region. Many individuals are already showing symptoms of the disease, but a lack of sufficient medical staff and equipment is preventing proper diagnosis. Doctors in Gaza are warning that approximately 1.3 million polio vaccines are urgently needed to prevent a potential outbreak. The United Nations has expressed concern that the disease could turn into an epidemic in the region.
For a mother struggling to survive daily Israeli attacks, a new threat looms. Her 10-month-old child is ill, but due to the shortage of medical supplies, the disease cannot be diagnosed. Fearing the worst, she rushes from one hospital to another, suspecting polio.
One affected individual said, “We just want the bare minimum of medicine and food for our children. Do we have to wait until we see our children die from polio, one by one?”
Recently, polio was detected in Gaza, marking the first case in 25 years. Since then, fear has spread across the region. The Israeli assault had already devastated Gaza’s healthcare system long ago, leaving no way to confirm if the symptoms are indeed polio.
Another affected person said, “I have been transferred from Gaza to Shifa, then from Shifa to Al-Maghazi, and from there to Yawada. After that, I was again moved back to Al-Maghazi Hospital. I feel helpless, wandering from hospital to hospital, without receiving any care.”
Doctors in Gaza warn that if immediate action is not taken, polio could spread like an epidemic across the region. To control the situation, approximately 1.3 million polio vaccines are needed, but the ongoing Israeli attacks are hindering vaccination campaigns.
Dr. Khalil Al-Dakran of Al-Aqsa Hospital said, “If the Israeli forces do not cease their attacks immediately, the situation will become catastrophic. We need to start the vaccination campaign as soon as possible. We require around 1.3 million vaccines to cover children under ten in Gaza, but we are not receiving any of them.”
Earlier, the United Nations stated that conducting two vaccination campaigns in Gaza could prevent up to 95% of polio’s spread.
