Mass Polio Vaccination Campaign To Resume In Gaza On Saturday, WHO Says

Reuters (2/19, Farge) reports, “The World Health Organization said on Wednesday that a mass campaign to vaccinate children against polio in Gaza would resume on Saturday, with over half a million children targeted.” The WHO said, “The current environment in Gaza, including overcrowding in shelters and severely damaged water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, which facilitates fecal-oral transmission, create ideal conditions for further spread of poliovirus.” The organization added, “Extensive population movement consequent to the current ceasefire is likely to exacerbate the spread of poliovirus infection.”