2024 Gaza Strip polio epidemic

2024 Gaza Strip polio outbreak
DiseasePolio
Virus strainCirculating vaccine–derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2)
SourceWastewater
LocationKhan Yunis and Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip
First reportedCentral Gaza Strip
Date16 July 2024 – present
Confirmed cases1[1]
Active cases1[2]
Suspected cases‡3[3]
‡Suspected cases have not been confirmed by laboratory tests as being due to this strain, although some other strains may have been ruled out.

The 2024 Gaza Strip polio outbreak is an ongoing outbreak of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in the Gaza Strip, first discovered on 16 July 2024 and officially declared an epidemic by the Gaza health ministry on 29 July.[4][5] The Gaza health ministry stated that the epidemic presented a significant risk to Gaza's citizens and to bordering countries, and called the outbreak "a setback to the global polio eradication program".[6] The World Health Organization reported that it was "very likely" that polio cases infected citizens of Gaza and were spreading among its population, although detecting cases would be very challenging due to the virus being asymptomatic in most cases and due to Israeli medical blockades preventing confirmation of cases.[5] The epidemic marked the first occurrence of poliovirus in the Gaza Strip since the virus was completely eradicated from the region 25 years prior.[7]

On 16 August, tests in Jordan confirmed the first polio infection in Gaza, located in the central Gaza strip.[8]

So far the United Nations has confirmed one case of paralysis in a 10-month-old baby.[9]

On 29 August 2024, Israel made a "preliminary commitment" to comply to pauses in the fighting to facilitate a vaccination campaign.[10] 14 days later the World Health Organization reported that polio vaccination for children of the Gaza strip was achieved.[11]

  1. ^ "Gaza sees first polio case in 25 years as UN calls for mass vaccinations". The Guardian. 2024-08-16. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  2. ^ "Gaza sees first polio case in 25 years as UN calls for mass vaccinations". The Guardian. 2024-08-16. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  3. ^ "WHO warns Gaza at 'high risk' of polio outbreak". Financial Times. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Polio in Gaza: WHO 'extremely worried' about possible outbreak". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Polio cases 'very likely' in Gaza population, WHO says". Reuters. 30 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference barrons was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Al-Taher, Nada (30 July 2024). "Gaza declares polio epidemic 25 years after disease was eradicated in enclave". The National. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Gaza sees first polio case in 25 years as UN calls for mass vaccinations". The Guardian. 2024-08-16. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  9. ^ "Baby contracts Gaza's first case of polio in 25 years". www.bbc.com. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  10. ^ "UN says Israel agrees to pauses in Gaza fighting for polio vaccinations". Al Jazeera. 29 Aug 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference TOI1209 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).