CAIRO: The World Health Organisation is working on a polio vaccination campaign for Gaza after the virus was detected there, officials say, although the absence of a ceasefire in Israel’s conflict with Hamas presents multiple roadblocks.

Gaza’s health ministry declared a polio epidemic in the Palestinian enclave last month, blaming Israel’s ongoing military offensive.

While no clinical cases have been found so far, polio was detected in sewage in Gaza’s Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis governorates, Dr Hamid Jafari, a WHO polio specialist, said during a news conference on Wednesday, adding it was possible the virus had been circulating since September.

Children under five are most at risk from the viral disease, and especially infants under two since normal vaccination campaigns have been disrupted by ten months of conflict. While vaccines necessary to immunise half a million children against the outbreak were available, delivery into the Palestinian territory and the kind of door-to-door, or tent-to-tent, delivery necessary in Gaza was difficult given restricted freedom of movement, officials said.

“We need a ceasefire, even a temporary ceasefire to successfully undertake these campaigns. Other­wise, we risk the virus spreading further, including across borders,” said Hanan Balkhy, regional WHO Director.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2024