First case of Polio detected in Gaza Strip

The Palestinian Ministry of Health has confirmed the first case of polio in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement issued on Friday, the ministry reported that the case involves a 10-month-old child from Deir al-Balah who had not received any doses of the polio vaccine.

Doctors suspected the child showed symptoms consistent with polio, and after conducting necessary tests in Amman, Jordan – the diagnosis was confirmed as a vaccine-derived strain of the poliovirus.

The Palestinian government emphasized that protecting children and the Palestinian people, wherever they are, remains a top priority. The government is mobilizing all available resources to confront this crisis – per the statement.

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with international organizations and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), has developed a comprehensive plan to launch a widespread polio vaccination campaign in Gaza.

The campaign, set to begin in the coming days, will target children under the age of ten. The ministry has secured 1.2 million doses of type 2 polio vaccine in coordination with UNICEF and is currently working to obtain an additional 400,000 doses.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health stressed that the ongoing brutal “Israeli” aggression on Gaza has caused a severe health crisis, creating an ideal environment for the spread of diseases, including the poliovirus.

The deterioration of sanitation services, accumulation of waste, and lack of clean drinking water have all exacerbated the health situation.

The ministry appealed to the international community and health organizations for immediate intervention to stop the “Israeli” aggression and create conditions conducive to providing urgent healthcare to the population.

It also called for the reconstruction of water and sanitation systems, the disposal of medical and solid waste, ensuring the entry of essential medical supplies and medicines, and providing fuel to pump clean water.