Israeli public health professors say a ceasefire is the only way to protect babies in the Gaza Strip and Israel from a polio epidemic.
“The response to the threat of the highly contagious polio virus, recently detected in sewage in Gaza, must be coordinated and comprehensive,” the eight experts said in an article published by Israel’s Haaretz newspaper.
“As Israeli public health professors, we call for a ceasefire to stop its spread,” they said.
On Friday, World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Ghebreyesus said a ceasefire was essential to respond effectively after poliovirus type-2 was found in some wastewater samples taken in southern Gaza.
On Sunday, the Israeli army said it had begun a widespread vaccination campaign for all ground troops in Gaza.
The highly contagious virus is transmitted through drinking contaminated water or through oral contact. It can cause paralysis and in extreme cases, death. (Aljazeera/Z-10)
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