Polio Outbreak in Gaza: What Caused the Sudden Reemergence
A recent case of poliovirus has been reported in the Gaza Strip, leaving a 10-month-old boy paralyzed. This is the first such case in the region this century. As a result, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a limited ceasefire to allow 640,000 children in the enclave to be vaccinated against the virus.
Lee Sherry, a virologist, suggests that the virus may have been introduced to Gaza through the oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), which contains a weakened live poliovirus that can be shed by vaccinated people. This is likely due to the fact that the virus may have been introduced by someone traveling to the region. Additionally, the war in Gaza has created an ideal environment for the virus to thrive and spread, with unhygienic conditions caused by limited access to clean water and sanitation.
– Poliovirus is an incredibly stable virus that can remain infectious for long periods outside of the human body, depending on the environmental conditions.
– Wild type poliovirus is a virus that is circulating naturally in the environment, whereas vaccine-derived strains are related to the weakened virus present in the OPV.
The current vaccination campaign in Gaza is using the novel oral poliovirus vaccine type 2 (nOPV2), a next-generation version of the traditional type 2 monovalent oral polio vaccine. This vaccine contains a weakened virus that has been modified to make it more genetically stable and less likely to revert to a more virulent form capable of causing paralysis.
Other vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles and pneumonia, as well as diarrheal diseases like rotavirus, have the potential to emerge in Gaza due to interrupted vaccination campaigns. Therefore, it is essential to deliver as many vaccines as possible to the region.
The recent polio outbreak in the Gaza Strip has sparked concerns about the reemergence of this highly infectious disease. A 10-month-old baby in the region was recently paralyzed by poliovirus, prompting questions about how this disease could resurface in a region where it was thought to be eradicated.
According to Lee Sherry, a virologist, the polioviruses detected in Gaza in July 2024 suggest that these viruses may be related to a strain circulating in Egypt, with the virus potentially being introduced to Gaza as early as September 2023.
A combination of factors contributed to the outbreak, including:
– The use of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) which contains a weakened live poliovirus that can be shed by vaccinated people.
– The war in Gaza which has provided an ideal environment for the virus to thrive and spread due to unhygienic conditions caused by limited access to clean water and sanitation.
This highlights the need for ongoing vaccination efforts, even in regions where diseases have been largely eradicated, and the importance of being prepared for emerging health crises.