Polio epidemic declared in Gaza in latest sign of worsening health crisis
Al JazeeraGaza’s health ministry calls for ‘immediate intervention to end the aggression and find radical solutions’ to the health emergency. Gaza’s health ministry has declared a polio epidemic across the Palestinian enclave, blaming Israel’s devastating military offensive for the spread of the deadly virus. In a statement on Telegram, the ministry on Monday said the situation “poses a health threat to the residents of Gaza and neighbouring countries” – the latest sign of a worsening public health emergency caused by Israel’s genocidal war since October. Earlier this month, Gaza’s health ministry said it had detected “component poliovirus type 2” in coordination with the United Nations Children’s Fund. Israel’s military, which said it has evidence of the “component polio virus type 2”, said it would start offering the polio vaccine to soldiers in Gaza.