Following the Health Ministry's recommendation to vaccinate all IDF soldiers in Gaza for polio, the IDF is examining vaccinating all soldiers in light of the infection risk identified recently in Gaza's sewage sample tests. The IDF stated it "will act in coordination with the Health Ministry to ensure the soldiers' and the public's health while continuing to conduct tests. In addition, soldiers have been instructed to maintain personal hygiene."
Five senior public health experts called for an immediate cease-fire to address the threat of viruses, bacteria and infections that could spread from Gaza following the discovery of the polio virus. They wrote: "At this time, when many threats hover over us, there is an additional threat: polio. Unfortunately, this fact is not surprising. In recent months, public health officials have warned of the risk of polio and other diseases spreading in Gaza, due to Hamas' activities, the destruction of the health system, the lack of access to nutrition and water, inadequate hygiene and sanitation, population density, movement of residents, and sewage overflow."
The experts also stated that "the State of Israel knows how to deal with such a threat, as it has demonstrated for decades, including building a vaccination program in Gaza decades ago. Coping requires organization and mobilization, but no less important is the determination of other actors to eradicate the polio virus as part of an international effort."
Professor Zohar Mor, deputy health commissioner of the Central District at the Health Ministry, sent a letter to the newly appointed Chief Medical Officer, Brigadier General Dr. Zivan Aviad-Bar, which instructed the IDF "to ensure that all soldiers are vaccinated against polio. It is also recommended for those vaccinated to receive a booster shot due to potential exposure risks, especially in the field. In addition to protecting soldiers, vaccinating them prevents the infection of those who come into contact with them."
The Health Ministry's instructions state that "vaccination is recommended for all combat teams currently in Gaza or those who are expected to enter the area. There is no need to vaccinate soldiers who have previously been in the area." The ministry recommends that soldiers in Gaza thoroughly wash their hands for at least 15 seconds and whenever possible, noting that hand sanitizer does not destroy the polio virus. The ministry also recommended removing mud or dirt from shoes by rubbing them with a cloth soaked in chlorine.
Public health experts from Ben-Gurion University and the Hebrew University warned that children and individuals with immunodeficiencies are at an increased risk. "In the current situation, different populations are at risk of the polio virus, including Gaza residents, the hostages, humanitarian workers, our soldiers in Gaza and soldiers overseeing detainees from Gaza."
All infants in Israel and Gaza who have not yet received all their vaccinations are at high risk. There is no doubt that these infants are 'uninvolved'
"In fact, we are all at risk because viruses, bacteria and other contaminants do not stop at borders. One of the hostages, Kfir Bibas, did not receive his vaccinations due to his young age when he was kidnapped, and therefore is at high risk. Moreover, all infants in Israel and Gaza who have not yet received all their vaccinations are at high risk. There is no doubt that these infants are 'uninvolved'. Children and adults with immunodeficiencies are also at risk," the public health experts warned.
According to the experts, "such an event was expected and is not unique to our region. The polio virus 'waits' to spread in unvaccinated populations. When conditions of hygiene, sanitation, housing, nutrition, and access to safe water are compromised, the virus finds a way to cause illness. Some of the affected individuals may suffer from paralysis for their entire lives. Similar events have been recorded in conflict areas worldwide, including Ukraine, Ethiopia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Experience teaches that thorough action must be taken, with vaccination operations and epidemiological monitoring of the population, as well as environmental monitoring, through sewage."
"This activity must be carried out quickly and safely, and an immediate cease-fire is imperative! A cease-fire will allow not only the release of the hostages, which we all hope for, but also a series of essential steps in the public health field, including wide and rapid vaccination operations in Gaza and the IDF, improving the availability of health services and health conditions, accessibility to safe water and the regulation of health conditions, nutritional security, shelter, housing and restoring medical services in Gaza."
The experts also said that "these actions will take a long time and require interagency cooperation with appropriate planning. Without them, the current situation will harm children's health and vulnerable populations in Israel in particular. We must act quickly and decisively. The virus spreads quickly. This is not a political stance, but the right action from a health and humanitarian perspective."