From the Liveblog of
Sunday, August 18, 2024
Israeli Pediatric Association urges polio vaccination drive in Gaza after baby found with disease
Reporter at The Times of Israel
The Israeli Pediatric Association calls on international medical organizations to assist in promoting vaccination against polio in the Gaza Strip, after Gaza recorded its first polio case in 25 years last week when tests in Jordan confirmed the disease in an unvaccinated 10-month-old from the central Gaza Strip.
“Without access to vaccines, the current outbreak could spread and endanger children across the entire region,” the organization says.
The statement urges the creation of safe conditions for vaccination teams and healthcare workers to perform their tasks and to prevent further deterioration in public health in the Gaza Strip.
The type 2 poliovirus was detected in samples collected from the territory’s wastewater in June.
Polio is a highly infectious disease, mostly affecting young children, that attacks the nervous system. It can lead to paralysis and in some cases death.
