Despite not yet finding any clinical cases, the debilitating disease has been detected in Gaza sewage. Meanwhile, Germany strongly criticized a call by the Israeli finance minister to halt aid deliveries.
The World Health Organization said it would send 1 million polio vaccines to Gaza after the nearly-eradicated disease was detected in sewage in two Gaza governates.
Although no clinical cases have yet been logged, authorities in Gaza declared an epidemic last month, blaming Israel’s ongoing military offensive.
The WHO said arranging a cease-fire was crucial to enable it to better distribute and administer the vaccines, and to seek human cases explaining the apparent presence of the viral disease in sewage.
“We need a cease-fire, even a temporary cease-fire, to successfully undertake these campaigns,” said Hanan Balkhy, regional WHO director. “Otherwise, we risk the virus spreading further, including across borders.”
Young children who may not have been vaccinated are most at risk from the disease, which is mainly spread through the fecal-oral route.
