The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the highly infectious polio virus has been discovered at six sewage systems in the Gaza Strip.

Since 2022, polio vaccination coverage in Gaza had been at healthy rate of 95%. However, with Hamas using all available resources, including fresh water, to fuel its terror war against Israel, its citizens are now faced with a very deadly disease.

Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that has plagued humanity for centuries. It primarily spreads through contaminated water, food, or close contact with an infected person. While many infected individuals may not show symptoms, others can experience fever, fatigue, and limb pain. In severe cases, polio can damage the body’s nervous system, leading to paralysis.

Rather than acknowledging Hamas’ direct role in Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was quick to blame Israel for the virus’s reemergence.

“The decimation of the health system, lack of security, access obstruction, constant population displacement, shortages of medical supplies, poor quality of water and weakened sanitation are increasing the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases, including polio,” Tedros wrote on X.

“It is important to note the virus has been isolated from the environment only at this time; no associated paralytic cases have been detected,” he added.

In response, the IDF is working with international organizations to bring more vaccines to Gaza’s civilian population. The army also issued orders to its soldiers to maintain personal hygiene and has launched a voluntary polio vaccination campaign.