Synopsis

The article published in the editorial section of the Hindu newspaper highlights the gruesome situation of Gaza dealing with poliovirus while it is already also dealing with war with Israel.

Article Explanation

The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs defines biological weapons as those that spread disease-causing organisms or toxins to harm humans, animals, or plants. War, which involves the mass killing of humans, animals, and plants, is a significant issue in the context of climate change. The remains of incendiary explosives and building debris can have toxic effects that last for generations.

Climate change can also create environments conducive to the spread of disease-causing microbes, which can diminish people’s and the state’s ability to respond optimally. The chemically toxic outcomes of war can also lead to dysfunctional environments that persist and sow more threats. Conflict operations can ultimately strike a killing blow by bombing hospitals, blocking medical aid, and cutting off water and electricity supplies, as seen in Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Israel’s Statement

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has been addressing the discovery of poliovirus in Gaza, which has led to a debate over its response. The IDF has started vaccinating its soldiers and those set to enter the territory, and as of July 21, there were no recorded cases of poliomyelitis. The situation is considered debatable due to the limited healthcare infrastructure in Gaza, as only one-third of the 36 hospitals were still functioning by May 21, 2024.

This makes it unlikely that poliovirus infections would be diagnosed effectively due to limited facilities, ongoing violence, and evacuation orders. The detection of poliovirus in Gaza’s sewage implies that the virus must have already infected some Gaza residents. On July 29, Gaza’s Health Ministry declared a polio epidemic in the Gaza Strip, confirming the presence and spread of the virus.

The spread of poliovirus in Gaza is concerning, as wild poliovirus type 1 is currently limited to rural areas in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The virus in Gaza is believed to be a vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2, which can still cause outbreaks if not managed properly. The ongoing conflict and damaged healthcare infrastructure in Gaza pose significant challenges to controlling and managing the spread of the virus, exacerbating the public health crisis. The statement highlights the complex interplay between public health, conflict, and healthcare infrastructure, emphasizing the difficulties in diagnosing and managing poliovirus infections in a conflict zone and the broader implications for global polio eradication efforts.

The Danger Of Spread

The passage highlights the urgent need to improve medical conditions in Gaza to prevent the spread of polio, as the ongoing conflict has severely damaged the region’s healthcare and water infrastructure, making it difficult to effectively manage the outbreak. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s Global Polio Surveillance Action Plan 2022-2024 highlights the vulnerability of fragile states with ongoing conflicts to infectious diseases like polio due to their limited capacity to detect and respond to the virus.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted immunization efforts, leading to the re-emergence of wild poliovirus in Malawi and Mozambique after three decades. Gaza’s immunization rates have dropped from 99% in 2022 to 89% in late 2023. Despite Israel claiming to have delivered 300,000 vaccines to Gaza, ongoing military operations and infrastructure destruction continue to pose significant health risks.

Damaged Infrastructure.

The passage also highlights the damage to water infrastructure and water sources, as Israeli military operations have damaged or destroyed these facilities, preventing proper treatment of wastewater and increasing the risk of poliovirus spread through contaminated water.

Ceasefire and public health calls are being made to prevent a “polio epidemic among Gazan and Israeli babies” and to ensure the delivery of over a million polio vaccines to the region. Improving living conditions and healthcare access is critical to controlling the spread of the virus and preventing a larger epidemic.

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The Editorial Page of The Hindu is an essential reading for all the students aspiring for UPSC, SSC, PCS, Judiciary etc or any other competitive government exams.

This may also be useful for exams like CUET UG and CUET PG, GATE, GMAT, GRE AND CAT

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