Abdel-Rahman Abu El-Jedian, a 10-month-old baby from Gaza, became the first confirmed polio case in the region in 25 years, marking a devastating turn in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. His sudden paralysis shocked his family, especially his mother, Nevine, who described him as a previously energetic child. Health workers had feared a potential polio outbreak due to the deteriorating conditions in Gaza, and Abdel-Rahman’s diagnosis has now confirmed their worst fears.
Before the conflict, most children in Gaza were vaccinated against polio. However, Abdel-Rahman missed his vaccination because he was born just before the war began on October 7, when Hamas attacked Israel, leading to a retaliatory offensive.
The resulting chaos, including attacks on hospitals, halted regular vaccinations, leaving newborns like Abdel-Rahman vulnerable. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that for every confirmed case of polio paralysis, hundreds more might be infected without showing symptoms, highlighting the severe risk of a wider outbreak.
Polio Outbreak Confirmed in Gaza Amid Conflict, Urgent Vaccination Campaign Needed to Protect Children
The Abu El-Jedian family now lives in a crowded tent camp in Deir al-Balah, under conditions that aid workers describe as ripe for the spread of diseases like polio. The camp’s unsanitary conditions, with garbage heaps and wastewater in the streets, exacerbate the situation. The United Nations plans to launch a vaccination campaign to prevent further spread, aiming to protect other families from similar tragedies.
The polio outbreak poses a significant challenge, with health agencies emphasizing the need for a cease-fire to ensure the vaccination of Gaza’s children. UNICEF has called for a “polio pause” in the fighting to allow health workers to safely reach children, as ongoing military operations and evacuation orders make many areas inaccessible. The goal is to vaccinate 95% of over 640,000 children under 10, with vaccine doses already arriving in Gaza.
Despite the efforts, the situation remains dire for families like the Abu El-Jedians. Nevine, now caring for her paralyzed son in a tent, hopes for his recovery as her other children gather around him. The WHO and other agencies are racing against time to prevent a disastrous spread of polio not only in Gaza but potentially across neighboring regions if the vaccination campaign is not fully implemented.
