First Polio Case Confirmed in Gaza Since 1998

Gaza has reported its first polio case in 25 years, with one-year-old Abdul Rahman Abu al-Jidyan now partially paralyzed due to the disease, which his mother attributes to their displacement and lack of vaccination amidst ongoing conflict. The family's living conditions in a tent camp are dire, with inadequate sanitation and healthcare, exacerbated by the decimation of Gaza's medical infrastructure from recent bombings. Health officials fear this incident could be the tip of the iceberg, as environmental samples indicate the presence of the poliovirus in the region. In response, a UN-led vaccination campaign has begun to combat the spread of polio, which was previously eradicated in Gaza in 1999. Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa officials in Pakistan are urging vigilance as environmental testing shows positive results for the virus, despite no reported cases this year. The situation in both regions highlights the urgent need for improved healthcare and vaccination efforts to prevent further outbreaks of polio.