WHO Chief Calls for Preventive Measures as Polio Detected in Gaza

Brussels – The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarms about the detection of polio in Gaza, warning that children in the war-ravaged enclave are at imminent risk of infection unless preventative measures are swiftly implemented. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus took to social media platform X on Wednesday to emphasize the urgent need for action in the face of ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

"The detection of polio in Gaza is another reminder of the dire conditions the population is facing," Tedros wrote on X. "The persistence of the conflict hampers efforts to identify and respond to preventable threats such as polio." He linked his post to an article he had written for French newspaper Le Monde, published late on Tuesday, which detailed the detection of poliovirus in sewage samples in Gaza.

In the article, Tedros highlighted that although no cases of polio had been officially recorded, the presence of the virus in sewage indicates that the disease could soon infect thousands of unprotected children if immediate action is not taken. Polio, which spreads primarily through the fecal-oral route, is a highly infectious virus capable of invading the nervous system and causing paralysis and death, particularly in young children.

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The WHO chief underscored the severe impact of the conflict on public health initiatives, stating that the ongoing violence makes it exceedingly difficult to identify and respond to health threats like polio. The situation in Gaza, already dire due to the war, is exacerbated by the emergence of such preventable diseases.

To combat the potential outbreak, the WHO is sending more than a million polio vaccines to Gaza. These vaccines are expected to be administered in the coming weeks to protect children from the disease. Tedros emphasized the critical nature of this intervention, noting that mass vaccination campaigns have historically been instrumental in reducing global polio cases by 99% since 1988.

The WHO's efforts are part of a broader strategy to mitigate the health crises caused by the ongoing conflict. The organization continues to advocate for peace and stability in the region, stressing that such conditions are essential for effective public health responses and the protection of vulnerable populations.

Tedros's statements serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of the conflict in Gaza, where the combination of war and public health threats creates a precarious situation for the population, particularly for children. The international community is urged to support efforts to provide humanitarian aid and medical supplies to those in need.

As the situation develops, the WHO remains committed to providing necessary resources and support to prevent a polio outbreak and to address other health challenges in Gaza. The organization's call for immediate action underscores the urgency of addressing these threats in a timely and coordinated manner.

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