Gaza baby paralysed by first polio case in 25 years, WHO reports

A 10-month-old baby in Gaza has been paralyzed by the type 2 polio virus, marking the first case in the territory in 25 years. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for urgent vaccinations, particularly in areas with low vaccination rates, and has announced two rounds of a polio vaccination campaign set to begin in late August and September 2024 across the densely populated Gaza Strip. UN agencies have urged Israel and Hamas to allow these vaccination campaigns to proceed.

Israel has agreed to facilitate the transfer of polio vaccines into Gaza for around one million children. The Israeli military's humanitarian unit (COGAT) is coordinating with Palestinian authorities to procure 43,000 vials of the vaccine, each containing multiple doses. The campaign aims to combat the spread of the type 2 virus (cVDPV2), which has been responsible for most polio outbreaks in recent years, especially in areas with compromised health infrastructure and low vaccination rates.