Gaza-based Ministry of Health warns of epidemic outbreak among children

GAZA, Aug. 04 (YPA) – The Gaza-based Ministry of Health declared on Monday it recorded three deaths due to Guillain-Barré syndrome, two of them children under the age of 15.

This came amid warnings of an alarming increase in cases of acute flaccid paralysis, amid the collapse of the health system and the spread of epidemics.

The ministry said in an statement that the victims died due to a lack of adequate medical treatment, emphasizing that this development could not be considered merely an isolated incident, but rather an epidemic warning that portends an uncontrollable health crisis.

“The infections are caused by intestinal viruses that are distinct from poliovirus, as confirmed by laboratory tests,” the statement clarified. This is a result of a polluted environment and a severe shortage of treatment, which increases the likelihood of new, uncontrolled infectious diseases emerging amid unprecedented environmental and health deterioration caused by the ongoing Israeli blockade.”

According to the Ministry of Health, 45 cases of acute flaccid paralysis were recorded during June and July, a number that exceeds normal rates and reflects the seriousness of the current situation.

The ministry attributed this increase to water pollution, the collapse of sanitation infrastructure, waste accumulation, and malnutrition, all of which weaken immunity and make children more susceptible to infection.

It called on the international community to take “urgent action” to provide life-saving treatment and lift the blockade immediately, stressing that the continuation of the current situation to place thousands of children in immediate danger.

AA