Poliovirus has been detected in sewage samples in the Gaza Strip according to testing conducted in coordination with the United Nations, the Gaza Ministry of Health announced Thursday.
Samples were taken from sewage water that “collects and flows between the tents of the displaced and in the places where residents are located as a result of the destruction of the infrastructure” in war-torn Gaza, according to the ministry.
“The presence of the virus that causes polio … represents a new health disaster,” the ministry said in a statement. “There is severe overcrowding, a scarcity of available water and its contamination with sewage water, the accumulation of tons of garbage and the occupation’s prevention of the entry of hygiene materials, which creates a suitable environment for the spread of various epidemics.”
Women stand near the tomb of a family member after corpses were unearthed from temporary graves at the al-Amal hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip and handed over to their families for burial, July 18, 2024.
Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images
The ministry called for “an immediate halt to the Israeli aggression, the provision of usable water, the repair of sewage lines and an end to the overcrowding at displacement camps.”
Polio, or poliomyelitis, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus, which attacks the nervous system and can lead to irreversible paralysis, according to the World Health Organization.
Polio mainly affects children under 5, though the virus can strike at any age. It’s incurable but completely vaccine-preventable. The virus is highly contagious and can live for weeks in an infected person’s feces, which can contaminate food and water in unsanitary conditions and spread to other people. Polio remains endemic in two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to the WHO.
-ABC News’ Morgan Winsor
On Sunday, tragedy struck in Tel Aviv as one person was killed and four others were injured by shrapnel in an explosion. According to officials, the incident occurred amidst the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, which has been escalating in recent weeks.
The explosion is believed to have been caused by a rocket fired from Gaza, as tensions between Israel and Hamas continue to rise. The victim who lost their life in the attack has not yet been identified, but the four injured individuals are currently receiving medical treatment.
This latest incident highlights the devastating impact that the conflict is having on innocent civilians in both Israel and Gaza. The violence has already claimed the lives of dozens of people, including children, and has left many more injured and displaced.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the military campaign against Hamas until peace and security are restored to the region. Meanwhile, Hamas has continued to launch rockets into Israel, leading to further casualties and destruction.
The international community has called for an immediate ceasefire and a return to negotiations to end the violence. The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict and the impact it is having on civilians.
As the situation continues to deteriorate, it is crucial for all parties involved to prioritize the safety and well-being of civilians and work towards a peaceful resolution. The loss of life and injuries in Tel Aviv serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of war and the urgent need for a lasting peace in the region.
