The detection of poliovirus environmental samples from Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah in July 2024 has led to the initiation of an inoculation campaign intended to reach more than 640,000 children. The campaign is supported by a US$5 million pledge from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and delivered in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF, and UNRWA. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) describes the campaign as a “critical effort to prevent an outbreak” in the territory, which has recorded the first case of paralytic polio in 25 years.
Poliovirus detected
WHO warned in August 2024 that poliovirus was detected on 16th July 2024 in environmental samples from Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah, collected on 23rd June 2024. Sequencing analysis confirmed that the circulating variant type 2 poliovirus (cVDPV2) isolates are linked to a variant poliovirus strain that was last detected in Egypt in 2023. Since then, three children have presented with suspected acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), a “common symptom” of polio. Stool samples have been sent for testing at the Jordan National Polio Laboratory.
Circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs) are a “rare” but increasing form of polio that presents a risk due to “low immunisation rates within communities”. GPEI emphasises the “many benefits” of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) but highlights that the vaccine virus is excreted in the stool. In communities with low immunisation rates the virus can mutate and spread, leading to cVDPVs.
Humanitarian pauses
WHO and UNICEF urged “all parties to the conflict” to implement “humanitarian pauses” in the Gaza Strip for seven days. This would allow two rounds of vaccination campaigns to be conducted. In each round, the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH), collaborating with WHO, UNICEF, UNRWA, and partners, will provide two drops of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to more than 640,000 children under the age of ten.
More than 1.6 million doses were expected by the end of August and “detailed plans” to support vaccinators and social mobilisers in reaching eligible children were finalised. 708 teams, involving around 2,700 health workers, will deliver the campaign. To prevent the spread of polio and reduce the risk of re-emergence, WHO aims for “at least” 95% vaccination coverage in each round of the campaign, recognising the “severely disrupted” health, water, and sanitation systems.
