Several Palestinian and international bodies have renewed their warnings of the imminent spread of dangerous epidemics in the Gaza Strip, as a result of the destruction of infrastructure and the absence of the basic necessities of life, such as food, water, and medicine, since October 7.
The World Health Organization is working with UNRWA to establish a system to monitor disease outbreaks and monitor the most common infectious diseases such as respiratory infections, amid expectations of the spread of chickenpox and skin infections.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza warned of “the outbreak of a major epidemic wave” due to drinking contaminated water, damage to sewage networks, and the lack of necessary supplies and health care. It announced 3,150 cases of epidemic diseases a few days ago.
Among more than 7,000 Palestinians who were killed in the confrontations, a World Health Organization official estimated a few days ago that 1,000 bodies were still under the rubble in Gaza and had not been registered among the victims.
Deteriorating health conditions
Dr. Adel Abdel Azim, professor of epidemiology, endemic diseases and preventive medicine, said in an interview with “Sky News Arabia” website that after any military operations or battles, waste and rubble of destroyed buildings accumulate, and a type of rotting and decomposition of human and animal bodies occurs, especially those still under the rubble, resulting in microbes. Harmful. The professor of epidemiology and preventive medicine explains that as a result of the contamination of drinking water and food, it leads to the spread of dangerous diseases and epidemics, most notably cholera, in addition to diseases that were hidden in war zones such as Gaza, and which appear again, such as smallpox, due to lack of nutrition and the deterioration of public health. Toxic fumes resulting from aerial bombardment, fires, and destruction increase the chances of cancer spreading, especially lung cancer, according to the Egyptian expert.
Possible diseases
Tuberculosis is also one of the most dangerous diseases resulting from air pollution, and the professor of epidemiology warns against it. Tuberculosis is a serious contagious disease that affects the lungs and the bacteria that cause it are transmitted through droplets through coughing and sneezing.
He adds that there are also common diseases that are transmitted from humans to animals or vice versa, including rotaviruses, bird flu, swine flu, and others, which lead to fatigue and death.
Lack of food and weak immunity make it possible for people to become infected with viruses and infectious diseases, whether between people or animals, and vice versa.
Urgent actions
Containing the epidemic depends on several things:
– The amount of vaccines, medicines and medical aid that will reach those affected by the epidemic.
– The extent to which the targeted people responded by strengthening their immunity to resist epidemics.
– Availability of medical teams working to confront epidemics.
Transboundary diseases
The area of those affected by epidemics is expanding to include, in addition to the population, all paramedics, health coordinators, and medical and relief teams working in an area threatened by epidemics, such as the Gaza Strip, which is threatened with being exposed to infection.
The Egyptian professor of epidemiology points out an important dimension related to the possibilities of the epidemic spreading to the countries and regions surrounding Gaza, as follows:
Countries and regions surrounding the region that are vulnerable to epidemics resulting from wars, such as Gaza, are responsible for strengthening the immunity of their populations and giving them effective vaccines to protect them.. If an epidemic appears in any area adjacent to the Gaza Strip, such as Egypt, it must be dealt with quickly before it spreads among the population. The most common cross-border diseases are cholera and airborne diseases. Rodents that move from place to place and from country to country may transmit diseases, and must be controlled so that they do not cause the spread of epidemics and diseases to countries neighboring the epidemic area..
Egyptian warning
Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, the Egyptian Minister of Health and Population, warned that the rate of spread of epidemics in the Gaza Strip is possible, due to the high death rates and the lack of medical and treatment services..
The Minister of Health and Population added, during a celebration of World Meningitis Day: “We are ready to work on two axes. The first is to protect Egyptians from disease infection, and the second is the readiness to provide full support to the brothers in Gaza to reduce the burden of the lack of services.”
Abdel Ghaffar stressed the readiness of the Ministry of Health for epidemiological surveillance and to provide full support to the Gaza Strip and fill the shortage of medical and therapeutic services.
2023-10-29 16:31:48
#Diseases #corpses #rubble. #Gaza #danger #dangerous #epidemic
