As the world’s media is mesmerised by political events in the USA and the findings by the ICJ of the illegal occupation by Israel of Gaza and the West Bank have slipped off the headlines, health officials in Gaza have found yet another potential catastrophic virus in the waste water, the poliovirus.

In response, the Israeli military rushed to inoculate its soldiers serving in Gaza against the disease, and health authorities have taken the necessary steps to prevent an outbreak in Israel. The ICRC and other health bodies warn of this new disastrous health situation looming for the embattled residents of Gaza as Israel keeps the borders closed to urgently needed polio and other vaccines.

A number of agencies have identified the presence of the virus. The UN children’s agency, UNICEF, “showed the presence of poliovirus”, and the World Health Organisation made similar findings. The Gaza Health ministry, noted that “The presence of poliovirus in waste water that collects and flows between displacement camp tents and in inhabited areas because of the destruction of infrastructure marks a new health disaster.”

Thousands of people, especially those not vaccinated including children and infants, are at great risk of catching the disease that can cause serious and long-term symptoms affecting the brain and nerves, including long term paralysis, and even death. Among those who survive some are very likely to have long term deformities requiring extensive rehabilitation and........

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