Surge in Acute Flaccid Paralysis Cases Linked to Enterovirus in Gaza
In a troubling trend, Gaza has witnessed a spike in cases of acute flaccid paralysis, with nearly 100 cases reported in just three months, a stark rise from the one or two cases typically seen annually, reports 24brussels. This alarming increase has raised serious health concerns amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
According to Dr. al-Farra, laboratory samples sent to Jordan and Israel tested positive for enterovirus, a group that includes the poliovirus and is primarily transmitted through contaminated water or fecal-oral contact. The situation in Khan Younis, where raw sewage inundates the streets, exemplifies the dire conditions facilitating the virus’s spread.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 32 cases of acute flaccid paralysis among children under 15 as of July 31. Although part of the increase can be attributed to improved monitoring, it also reflects the catastrophic failure of water and sanitation systems, rampant malnutrition, and severely restricted access to healthcare in Gaza.
Moreover, in approximately 70 percent of tested samples, a non-polio enterovirus was identified as the cause, climbing from just 26 percent in previous years, according to WHO findings. The organization’s statement emphasized that clinical evaluations and diagnoses have become exceedingly challenging in Gaza due to a significant lack of diagnostic and laboratory testing capacities.
International condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza continues to grow. European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera described Israel’s behavior as potentially constituting genocide—an assertion categorically denied by Israeli authorities. As geopolitical tensions mount, the health crisis in Gaza highlights the urgent need for humanitarian aid and improved infrastructure to combat the burgeoning health crisis.
The implications of the rising enterovirus cases extend beyond immediate health concerns; they threaten to exacerbate the ongoing humanitarian disaster in the region. Steps must be taken to ensure adequate resources and support for medical responses to stabilize the situation and prevent further outbreaks.
