Adedokun Waliyu 
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned Thursday of the danger of the rapid spread of infectious diseases in the Gaza Strip in light of the continuing escalation of the Israeli aggression against the Strip since Oct. 7.
WHO said in a statement Thursday that as deaths and injuries in Gaza continue rising, intense overcrowding and disrupted health, water, and sanitation systems pose an added danger: the rapid spread of infectious diseases, adding that “worrying trends are already emerging.” “Lack of fuel has led to the shutting down of desalination plants, significantly increasing the risk of bacterial infections like diarrhea spreading as people consume contaminated water.
Lack of fuel has also disrupted all solid waste collection, creating an environment conducive to the rapid and widespread proliferation of insects, rodents that can carry and transit diseases,” WHO explained.
The statement explained that the situation is particularly concerning for almost 1.5 million displaced people across Gaza, especially those living in severely overcrowded shelters with poor access to hygiene facilities and safe water, increasing risk of infectious diseases transmission.
The statement indicated that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), WHO, and the Ministry of Health in Gaza are working to expand a flexible disease surveillance system in many of these shelters and health facilities, and this system has monitored current disease trends that raise serious concern.
The cessation of routine vaccination work and the shortage of medicines needed to treat communicable diseases and the risk of diseases spreading rapidly increases, which is exacerbated because the disease surveillance system, including early disease detection and response capabilities, incomplete coverage, and limited Internet access and telephone network operation further limit their ability to detect potential outbreaks early and respond effectively, the statement added. (QNA)
