Following the discovery of the highly contagious poliovirus in sewage samples in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military has launched a large-scale vaccination campaign for its soldiers deployed in the Palestinian territory.
The vaccination campaign will apply “to all ground forces, both regular and reserve,” the army said on Sunday, adding that the Palestinian population will also be provided with vaccines.
Vaccines for the population of the Gaza Strip
The army has not provided information on the number of soldiers affected by the vaccinations. There are currently around 170,000 soldiers and another 300,000 reservists serving in the Israeli army. The decision, taken together with the Ministry of Health, aims to “protect the health of soldiers and Israeli citizens.”
It was also said that the Israeli army is also working with other organizations to bring vaccines to the area for the people of the Gaza Strip. So far, 300,000 vaccines have been delivered.
Poliovirus type 2 detected
According to the statement, the order was issued after the army conducted random tests in the Gaza Strip. According to the Israeli Ministry of Health, poliovirus type 2 was found in the wastewater samples during tests in Israeli laboratories. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) had found something similar. However, no cases of illness have been reported so far.
The highly contagious poliovirus causes the disease poliomyelitis – the medical term for polio. It attacks the spinal cord and can cause irreversible paralysis in children. It is usually spread through the feces of an infected person and ingested through contaminated water or food.
Source: Krone
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