What to know about the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza
Al Jazeera
UN officials say the best way to tackle polio in the Gaza Strip is an immediate and lasting ceasefire.
The United Nations, in collaboration with Palestinian health authorities, has officially begun a campaign to vaccinate children in the Gaza Strip against the poliovirus, which can cause paralysis of the limbs or even death in children.
This comes after the virus, previously defeated in the enclave following a mass vaccination drive, was discovered last month after 25 years. The detection of the polio case highlights the collapse of Gaza’s health infrastructure due to almost 11 months of nonstop Israeli bombardment.
Here’s what we know about the state of the rollout amid the devastating war on Gaza that has killed more than 40,700 Palestinians, including close to 17,500 children.
Polio is a serious infection that can spread quickly, especially in unhygienic conditions, as it can be transmitted through contact with excrement. It can also spread through coughs and sneezes, though it is less common.
Most people do not exhibit symptoms after contracting the virus, with some showing mild, flu-like symptoms like high temperature, fatigue and headaches that usually last up to 10 days. But the virus can also affect the brain and nerves, leading to paralysis and in some cases even death.
