Polio Virus Detected in Gaza Wastewater, Risks Regional Spread

GAZA — An alarming discovery of the polio virus in Gaza’s wastewater has raised concerns about the potential spread of the disease across the Middle East, according to a recent statement by a University of Copenhagen academic.

According to Philippines News Agency, a professor of global health, the situation is particularly worrying given the efforts to eradicate the disease globally. Speaking to Danish state news media on Saturday, Konradsen highlighted the dire state of health infrastructure in Gaza, which may facilitate the spread of the virus. “What is happening in Gaza now is yet another indicator that the health infrastructure and hygiene have broken down,” he noted. He detailed the lack of essential services such as water purification, wastewater treatment, and waste management due to insufficient energy, infrastructure, and chemicals.

Konradsen also emphasized the risk to neighboring regions, including Israel, where the potential for the virus to cross borders remains a significant concern. “It is really a disease that historically has created such an incredible amount of suffering and financial burden. It is definitely something that is feared — also in Israel. Because you don’t want the disease to spread either,” he explained.

The World Health Organization has confirmed the presence of polio virus (variant 2) in six wastewater samples collected in June from Khan Younis and Deir al Balah in the Gaza Strip. Despite the detection in wastewater, there have been no reported cases of paralysis or other symptoms typically associated with the virus in humans so far.