Polio Mass Vaccination To Continue In Gaza As Risk Of Outbreak Looms: WHO

"Extensive population movement consequent to the current ceasefire is likely to exacerbate the spread of poliovirus infection," says WHO.

Polio has reemerged in Gaza for the first time in 25 years, with the first case identified in a 10-month-old unvaccinated child. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) has initiated a mass polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip, scheduled from February 22 to 26, 2025. The campaign aims to vaccinate over 591,000 children under 10 years of age to protect them from polio. As of Wednesday, WHO with the UNICEF has resumed coordinated efforts of the Gaza vaccination campaign. According to Reuters report, this mass campaign that is resuming after the anouncement of Israel-Palestine ceasefire aims to inoculate over half a million children against the deadly polio virus.

The WHO said, "The current environment in Gaza, including overcrowding in shelters and severely damaged water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, which facilitates fecal-oral transmission, create ideal conditions for further spread of poliovirus."

"Extensive population movement consequent to the current ceasefire is likely to exacerbate the spread of poliovirus infection," it added.

The months of September and October 2024 was the period when the WHO successfully completes mass vaccination of children in Gaza reaching over 95 per cent of the target in two rounds.

Reports from Gaza indicate that the polio virus is still circulating in the enclave and poses certain health risks as people are migrating back to their home. As per WHO report, six samples tested positive in December and January. This campaign must resume to help all the unvaccinated children stay safe from the fatal polio virus.