Palestinian children pass by stagnant water in the Gaza Strip, which is now facing the threat of a viral break as it contends with war. AFP
Palestinian children pass by stagnant water in the Gaza Strip, which is now facing the threat of a viral break as it contends with war. AFP
Palestinian children pass by stagnant water in the Gaza Strip, which is now facing the threat of a viral break as it contends with war. AFP
Palestinian children pass by stagnant water in the Gaza Strip, which is now facing the threat of a viral break as it contends with war. AFP

Gaza's mass polio vaccination drive vital in averting 'catastrophic' outbreak


  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza

The World Health Organisation has this week set out plans to administer 1.2 million polio vaccine doses in Gaza in an effort to prevent an outbreak that could exacerbate the current humanitarian crisis.

Two rounds of mass vaccination – targeting hundreds of thousands of children under the age of eight – are to begin this month after the detection of poliovirus in sewage.

Healthcare facilities and sewage systems in Gaza have suffered severe damage after months of bombardment by Israel following the attacks on October 7 last year, raising the dangers of disease spreading.

Here we consider the risks facing Gaza and ask experts whether there is a likelihood of people suffering paralysis as a result of the spread of polio.

What is polio and what has been found in Gaza?

Typically passed on through the faecal-oral route – such as by eating or drinking something contaminated with faeces – poliomyelitis is a viral condition that, in most cases, does not cause symptoms.

A minority of infected people have headaches and other mild effects, but about one in 200 suffers irreversible paralysis. Five to 10 per cent of such paralysis cases result in death when breathing becomes affected.

It was revealed last month that poliovirus had been detected in a number of sewage samples collected from two governorates in Gaza in June. The WHO says it could have been in circulation since last year.

The immunisation drive comes after polio was detected in samples of sewage in Gaza. AFP
The immunisation drive comes after polio was detected in samples of sewage in Gaza. AFP

This viral matter is not wild poliovirus, but instead is circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV), which appears to be spreading within the Gazan population.

With many areas in Gaza severely overcrowded, and with health facilities and sewerage damaged, conditions are ripe for the spread of polio.

cVDPV originates from the oral polio vaccine (OPV), which contains a weakened form of the virus that, in populations where immunisation rates are low, can spread between people.

"When vaccine-derived polio circulates unhindered, after a certain length of time there’s concern it would mutate back to become fully virulent," said Paul Hunter, a professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia in the UK.

"Then you would start to see a big rise in cases of paralytic poliomyelitis."

Vaccine-derived poliovirus can circulate even in developed nations when vaccination rates fall, such as in New York, where it caused the paralysis of a man in 2022.

Huge progress has been made against wild poliovirus, especially since the launch, in 1988, of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, with cases having dropped by 99 per cent.

Only Pakistan and Afghanistan are still affected by the wild poliovirus, while in Africa, for example, cVDPV is the problem.

What vaccination programme is planned in Gaza?

An UNRWA employee vaccinates a child in Bureij refugee camp, central Gaza, during a previous campaign. AFP
An UNRWA employee vaccinates a child in Bureij refugee camp, central Gaza, during a previous campaign. AFP

The WHO aims to have two vaccination rounds of 600,000 doses for children under eight in Gaza, but has admitted that administering this could be difficult logistically.

The organisation is reportedly securing approvals to enter Gaza to undertake the programme and has called for a ceasefire so it can operate safely.

Prof Hunter, who helped to prepare a report for the WHO on infection control in Gaza during the conflict, said the situation there was "turning into one of the biggest humanitarian catastrophes" of the region in recent times.

Separate to the vaccination in Gaza, in May the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced it was carrying out a round of vaccinations using the OPV for children aged under five in Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

While there is a small risk with the OPV that it could mutate, become virulent again and spread in populations where vaccination rates are not high enough, it is easier to administer than the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), which is given by injection. Also, the OPV offers stronger protection against the spread of the disease than the IPV does.

In developed nations the polio vaccine used is typically the IPV, which is given as an injection in the arm or leg.

In the US, for example, the IPV has been used since 2000, while the UK moved from the OPV to the IPV four years later.

Should other countries be worried?

Prof John Oxford, emeritus professor of virology at Queen Mary, University of London, said there was a danger that polio could spread outside Gaza.

"It’s very worrisome indeed," he said. "You cannot escape the fact it’s a risk to neighbours and even further afield. It’s a huge dilemma and humanitarian crisis. We don’t want polio coming back anywhere in the world."

Given the risks to Israel, Prof Hunter said the country should allow vaccination efforts to take place for reasons of self-interest, as well as for the sake of the Gazan population.

"If paralytic poliomyelitis started spreading in Gaza, the risk is that it spreads more regionally to Israel and Egypt," he said.

"If it happened in Gaza, it would be absolutely appalling for the Palestinians but it would present a risk for neighbouring countries, including Israel.

"Israel has a responsibility to allow this vaccination to go ahead not only for humanitarian reasons, but to protect its own population."

Separate to the WHO’s planned vaccination of Gazan children, the Israeli military last month announced it would give polio boosters to its soldiers in Gaza.

Dr Hamid Jafari, director of the WHO polio eradication programme, said a fast international response to contain the outbreak could reduce the risk of a wider health crisis.

“There is a clear and present danger and risk of spread internationally of this virus, and the sooner we can respond, the faster we can begin to reduce that risk,” Dr Jafari told The National.

Israel-Gaza war - in pictures

“Our risk assessment tells us there is a very high risk of spread to surrounding countries, particularly Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.

“Under-vaccinated pockets are everywhere, including in Israel.

“It's very concerning. Polio is the only ongoing public health emergency of concern under the international health regulation.

“This requires a regional response and what that means is an initial focus on Gaza to stop the outbreak.”

Travel restrictions within the enclave have made it increasingly difficult for health workers to interact with communities in dire need of care.

The polio virus has been detected in sewage in two governates, from several sites in Deir al Balah and in Khan Younis.

The WHO and Unicef are working closely with the Ministry of Health to get the OPV programme up and running.

The initial plan was to start the campaign on August 17 but that has been delayed by another week to August 24.

Maintaining the cold chain storage required for the integrity of vaccine doses is another considerable challenge.

“Most likely polio has been circulating perhaps as long as since September last year,” said Dr Jafari.

“The conditions for polio virus transmission and the force of infection in the present situation in Gaza are extremely high.

“People are getting constantly displaced and they're coming into contact in crowded conditions.

“Gaza had very high immunisation rates and childhood immunisation, but they are falling.

“These conditions are perfect for the virus to circulate very efficiently and risk of spread to other parts of the occupied territories.

“The focus of our response is Gaza, but we are also preparing other countries of the region for a regional response, to increase their surveillance and preparedness.

“The only way to stop this outbreak is a series of mass vaccination campaigns.”

World Cup final

Who: France v Croatia
When: Sunday, July 15, 7pm (UAE)
TV: Game will be shown live on BeIN Sports for viewers in the Mena region

Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier

Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman

The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August

 

Group A

Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar

 

Group B

UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

While you're here
Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
THREE
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Nayla%20Al%20Khaja%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Jefferson%20Hall%2C%20Faten%20Ahmed%2C%20Noura%20Alabed%2C%20Saud%20Alzarooni%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
MO
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreators%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Amer%2C%20Ramy%20Youssef%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Amer%2C%20Teresa%20Ruiz%2C%20Omar%20Elba%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Champion%20v%20Champion%20(PFL%20v%20Bellator)
%3Cp%3EHeavyweight%3A%20Renan%20Ferreira%20v%20Ryan%20Bader%20%3Cbr%3EMiddleweight%3A%20Impa%20Kasanganay%20v%20Johnny%20Eblen%3Cbr%3EFeatherweight%3A%20Jesus%20Pinedo%20v%20Patricio%20Pitbull%3Cbr%3ECatchweight%3A%20Ray%20Cooper%20III%20v%20Jason%20Jackson%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EShowcase%20Bouts%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EHeavyweight%3A%20Bruno%20Cappelozza%20(former%20PFL%20World%20champ)%20v%20Vadim%20Nemkov%20(former%20Bellator%20champ)%3Cbr%3ELight%20Heavyweight%3A%20Thiago%20Santos%20(PFL%20title%20contender)%20v%20Yoel%20Romero%20(Bellator%20title%20contender)%3Cbr%3ELightweight%3A%20Clay%20Collard%20(PFL%20title%20contender)%20v%20AJ%20McKee%20(former%20Bellator%20champ)%3Cbr%3EFeatherweight%3A%20Gabriel%20Braga%20(PFL%20title%20contender)%20v%20Aaron%20Pico%20(Bellator%20title%20contender)%3Cbr%3ELightweight%3A%20Biaggio%20Ali%20Walsh%20(pro%20debut)%20v%20Emmanuel%20Palacios%20(pro%20debut)%3Cbr%3EWomen%E2%80%99s%20Lightweight%3A%20Claressa%20Shields%20v%20Kelsey%20DeSantis%3Cbr%3EFeatherweight%3A%20Abdullah%20Al%20Qahtani%20v%20Edukondal%20Rao%3Cbr%3EAmateur%20Flyweight%3A%20Malik%20Basahel%20v%20Vinicius%20Pereira%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Remaining fixtures

Third-place-play-off: Portugal v Mexico, 4pm on Sunday

Final: Chile v Germany, 10pm on Sunday

OPTA'S PREDICTED TABLE

1. Liverpool 101 points

2. Manchester City 80 

3. Leicester 67

4. Chelsea 63

5. Manchester United 61

6. Tottenham 58

7. Wolves 56

8. Arsenal 56

9. Sheffield United 55

10. Everton 50

11. Burnley 49

12. Crystal Palace 49

13. Newcastle 46

14. Southampton 44

15. West Ham 39

16. Brighton 37

17. Watford 36

18. Bournemouth 36

19. Aston Villa 32

20. Norwich City 29

 

 

 

 

 

 

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher:  Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5

Other must-tries

Tomato and walnut salad

A lesson in simple, seasonal eating. Wedges of tomato, chunks of cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, coriander or parsley leaves, and perhaps some fresh dill are drizzled with a crushed walnut and garlic dressing. Do consider yourself warned: if you eat this salad in Georgia during the summer months, the tomatoes will be so ripe and flavourful that every tomato you eat from that day forth will taste lacklustre in comparison.

Badrijani nigvzit

A delicious vegetarian snack or starter. It consists of thinly sliced, fried then cooled aubergine smothered with a thick and creamy walnut sauce and folded or rolled. Take note, even though it seems like you should be able to pick these morsels up with your hands, they’re not as durable as they look. A knife and fork is the way to go.

Pkhali

This healthy little dish (a nice antidote to the khachapuri) is usually made with steamed then chopped cabbage, spinach, beetroot or green beans, combined with walnuts, garlic and herbs to make a vegetable pâté or paste. The mix is then often formed into rounds, chilled in the fridge and topped with pomegranate seeds before being served.

Updated: August 11, 2024, 4:53 AM`