A Looming Public Health Crisis
The Gaza Strip is facing a growing threat of devastating disease outbreaks, as the region’s already fragile healthcare system teeters on the brink of collapse. Experts are sounding the alarm, warning that the recent surge in hepatitis A cases is just the tip of the iceberg, with the potential for even deadlier epidemics to take hold in the coming months.
The statistics paint a grim picture. More than 107,000 cases of acute jaundice syndrome, or suspected hepatitis A, have been reported in Gaza since last October, according to figures from the World Health Organization (WHO). This outbreak highlights the urgent need to address the underlying issues that have left the region’s healthcare infrastructure in a state of disrepair.
Dr. John Kahler, a retired pediatrician and co-founder of the aid group MedGlobal, witnessed firsthand the extent of the destruction during his missions to Gaza in January and March. “The spread of hepatitis A tells you that the (healthcare) system is flat broken,” he told Anadolu Agency.
A Hotbed for Infectious Diseases
The lack of access to clean water, proper sanitation, and adequate medical care in Gaza has created the perfect storm for the spread of infectious diseases. Hepatitis A, which is transmitted through contaminated food and water, is just the beginning of a much wider public health crisis.
“In such conditions, there are at least a couple of other things that could possibly take root, and these are ones ‘that will start killing people real quickly,’” Dr. Kahler warned. He identified several potentially deadly diseases that could thrive in Gaza’s deteriorating environment, including:
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Salmonella and Typhoid Fever: The salmonella bacteria can cause severe cases of typhoid fever, which can be easily controlled with antibiotics, but are in short supply in Gaza.
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Shigellosis: This bacterial infection can lead to bloody diarrhea and high fever, and is another disease that the region’s healthcare system is ill-equipped to handle.
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Cholera: Perhaps the most alarming threat, Dr. Kahler warned that if cholera were to be “introduced into this community, the deaths will mount by powers of 10.” With the public health infrastructure in shambles, the region would be powerless to contain a cholera outbreak.
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E. coli Infections: While not usually a major concern, E. coli can cause deadly diarrhea and kidney failure in the dehydrated and malnourished population of Gaza.
“All of these are a possibility because there literally is no public health system right now,” Dr. Kahler emphasized, highlighting the dire need for immediate intervention to prevent a catastrophic public health crisis.
Compounding Factors: Hunger, Displacement, and Overcrowding
The situation in Gaza is further exacerbated by the ongoing humanitarian crisis, which has left the population grappling with widespread hunger, displacement, and overcrowding. These factors have created the perfect breeding ground for infectious diseases to thrive.
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) global partnership, which includes the WHO, “Gaza is facing ‘catastrophic levels of food insecurity,’ with the risk of famine ‘increasing each day.’” An unprecedented 93% of the population in Gaza is facing crisis levels of hunger, with 1 in 4 households experiencing “catastrophic conditions” – an extreme lack of food and starvation.
“Wherever they went, including hospitals and emergency wards, people asked them for food,” the WHO staff reported after their recent missions to northern Gaza, “an indicator of the desperation.”
With over 1.9 million people displaced from their homes, and more than 1.4 million seeking refuge in overcrowded shelters, the conditions are ripe for the rapid spread of infectious diseases. “These conditions make the spread of infectious diseases inevitable,” the WHO warned.
A Healthcare System in Ruins
The devastation inflicted on Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure has further exacerbated the public health crisis. Hospitals, sanitation facilities, and clean drinking water sources have been damaged or destroyed, leaving the region with limited capacity to respond to the growing number of cases.
“Damage to the most critical infrastructures for human health – hospitals, sanitation facilities, and clean drinking water – have created all the required environments for deadly disease outbreaks,” explained Ubydul Haque, an assistant professor of global health at Rutgers Global Health Institute.
The loss of essential medical services and supplies has also had a devastating impact on the region’s ability to provide adequate care. “Since the hospitals are not functioning, there is no way to detect the outbreaks, and there is a high risk of rapid disease spread among the displaced population,” Haque added.
Urgent Need for Intervention
The situation in Gaza is dire, and experts are calling for immediate action to address the growing public health crisis. Enhancing community access to safe water and improving sanitation conditions are critical first steps, but WHO officials acknowledge that “it is ‘nearly impossible to achieve in Gaza in the current circumstances.’”
The international community must step up and provide the necessary humanitarian aid and resources to support Gaza’s beleaguered healthcare system. This includes restoring essential medical services, ensuring access to clean water and proper sanitation, and delivering vital supplies and equipment to combat the spread of infectious diseases.
As the world watches the unfolding crisis in Gaza, the need for a coordinated and comprehensive response has never been more urgent. Failure to act now could result in the loss of countless lives and the onset of even more devastating epidemics in the region.
“The people of Gaza, who have already suffered enough, now face death from starvation and diseases that could be easily treated with a functioning health system,” the WHO warned. “This must stop. Food and other aid must flow in far greater amounts. WHO reiterates its call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.”
The Joint Action for Water blog stands ready to support efforts to address this crisis and to advocate for the critical resources and assistance needed to protect the health and well-being of the people of Gaza. Visit our website to learn more about our work and how you can get involved.
