The WHO will resume mass polio vaccinations in Gaza on 22 February, aiming to immunise over 591,000 children under 10 after the virus was detected in wastewater. The campaign, delayed since November due to conflict, comes amid worsening humanitarian conditions and rising health risks.
In a statement released by the Director-General of the organization,Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, he said that the important vaccines will be provided to over 591,000 children under the age of 10 living in the strip.
He further explained that “This campaign follows the recent detection of poliovirus in wastewater samples, signaling circulation in the environment, which is putting children at risk”.
The five day campaign which was previously suspended in November 2024 was postponed due to “intense bombardments, mass displacements, lack of assured humanitarian pauses and access” according to the WHO.
WHO has also said that current conditions in the strip including overcrowding in shelters, and severely damaged water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, which facilitates fecal-oral transmission, create ideal conditions for further spread of the virus..
Thousands of displaced Palestinians have continued to make the return trip home since the first phase of the ceasefire deal was finalized with Israel on January 19.
In a bid to help rebuilding and humanitarian efforts across the region, Egypt and Qatar have also dispatched construction equipment to the strip to establish a container city and clear debris from buildings destroyed by the Israeli attacks.
Quick look at the polio virus
On February 12, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus highlighted the significant impact of the U.S. foreign aid freeze, stressing its detrimental effects on efforts to combat HIV, polio, and other health threats worldwide.
Argentina’s President Javier Milei declared that he would follow the United States in withdrawing from the World Health Organization due to “profound differences in health management, especially due to the pandemic, which led us to the longest confinement in the history of humanity.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at the possibility of rejoining the World Health Organization. This comes after signing an executive order to withdraw the country.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has called for an end to attacks on healthcare in Sudan after a drone strike on a North Darfur hospital killed over 70 people, including women and children.
President Donald Trump hinted at the possibility of the U.S. rejoining the World Health Organization, just days after announcing the country’s withdrawal due to concerns over the WHO's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pope Francis is showing improvement, the Vatican said, as the pontiff began his eighth day in hospital. Francis was admitted after struggling with breathing and is being treated for pneumonia.
EU boosts undersea cable security with nearly €1B reallocation, enhancing surveillance, deterrence, and rapid response. A new data-sharing system, drone program, and emergency repair fleet aim to protect critical infrastructure amid rising sabotage concerns.
China's centuries-old treasures have been pulled out of storage to be restored for display at Beijing's Forbidden City and Palace Museum. Meticulous repairs are needed ahead of the museum's 100th anniversary this year.
USAID has long promoted itself as a supporter of press freedom, but reports suggest its media funding may have influenced domestic narratives in Europe and post-Soviet states. With the Trump administration freezing its grants, the agency’s role in shaping global information is under scrutiny.
A Delta Air Lines regional jet flipped upside down upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday, injuring 18 people. Officials are investigating whether strong winds and snow played a role in the incident.
A tragic crowd crush at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night left 18 dead and 10 injured as thousands of people, many heading to the Kumbh Mela festival, attempted to board delayed trains. The incident highlights the ongoing risks of overcrowding at public transportation hubs in India.
Pope Francis is showing improvement, the Vatican said, as the pontiff began his eighth day in hospital. Francis was admitted after struggling with breathing and is being treated for pneumonia.
EU boosts undersea cable security with nearly €1B reallocation, enhancing surveillance, deterrence, and rapid response. A new data-sharing system, drone program, and emergency repair fleet aim to protect critical infrastructure amid rising sabotage concerns.
Pope Francis is showing improvement, the Vatican said, as the pontiff began his eighth day in hospital. Francis was admitted after struggling with breathing and is being treated for pneumonia.
EU boosts undersea cable security with nearly €1B reallocation, enhancing surveillance, deterrence, and rapid response. A new data-sharing system, drone program, and emergency repair fleet aim to protect critical infrastructure amid rising sabotage concerns.
China's centuries-old treasures have been pulled out of storage to be restored for display at Beijing's Forbidden City and Palace Museum. Meticulous repairs are needed ahead of the museum's 100th anniversary this year.
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