Gaza health ministry declares polio epidemic

China

Gaza health ministry declares polio epidemic

2024-07-31 02:04 Last Updated At：17:27

Health authorities in the Gaza Strip announced on Monday that a polio epidemic had broken out across the Palestinian enclave, blaming Israeli military operations for the damage to sanitation and medical systems that had precipitated the spread of the deadly virus.

The health ministry said that years after polio was eradicated in Palestine the virus has once again been detected in wastewater in Khan Younis in southern Gaza and central parts of the strip, posing a health threat to the residents of Gaza and neighboring countries.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported that its researchers had found the polio virus in six sewage samples collected in Khan Younis and other places in Gaza Strip. The agency said it is "extremely worried" about the situation.

Gaza's health authority said it will work with the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the WHO and others to deal with the polio epidemic, but stated that it is more important to take steps to end the Israeli military operation in the strip and to address the root causes of the lack of available water and sanitation supplies and waste disposal.

Since the outbreak of the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict in early October 2023, Gaza Strip has faced a serious humanitarian crisis, with people displaced, living conditions deteriorating and health systems severely hit, increasing the risk of infectious diseases.

Gaza's health ministry condemned the Israeli military offensive for depriving Gaza residents of usable water, destroying the local health infrastructure and leading to the accumulation of large amounts of waste.

Polio, which is spread mainly through human waste, is a highly contagious viral disease that attacks the nervous system and can cause paralysis within hours. It usually affects children younger than five years old, with symptoms including fever, headache, muscle pain and vomiting, and it can cause paralysis or death.

According to Al Jazeera, the Gaza Strip had a high polio vaccination rate of more than 95 percent before the current round of the Palestinian-Israeli armed conflict, but last year the figure dropped to 89 percent.

The escalation of Israeli military attacks in Gaza has damaged and destroyed water waste treatment systems, and sewage has spilled into the streets, creating a suitable environment for the spread of different diseases, Al Jazeera reported.

Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), said on social media that polio emerges due to "a crumbling health system, lack of clean water and hygiene material, overcrowded shelters, and very poor sanitation."

There is no cure for polio, and vaccination is the most cost-effective way to prevent the disease. But vaccination efforts in Gaza have been hampered by continued fighting that has forced people, including some health workers, to flee.

WHO announced on Thursday that it will send more than 1 million doses of polio vaccine to the war-torn strip to vaccinate children in the coming weeks.

Beijing consumer gold market remains hot despite rising prices

2024-09-17 04:15 Last Updated At：08:17

Beijing's consumer gold market has been running hot during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, despite recent rises in the gold price on international markets.

Last week, the main contract for gold futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange (COMEX) has risen to over 2,600 U.S. dollars per ounce.

At a gold shop in Beijing's Xicheng District, the price of pure gold jewelry went up to about 737 yuan (about 104 U.S. dollars) per gram, but many shoppers are still looking to buy gold jewelry especially during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday and the end-of-summer wedding season.

"It is now more than 700 yuan (about 98.7 U.S. dollars) per gram, but when we were here about two months ago, it was only just above 600 yuan (about 84.6 U.S. dollars) per gram," said a customer.

"I'm getting married, so I came to have a look. Even if the price goes up, we still have to buy it," said another customer.

"I had nothing to do during the holidays, so I came here to take a look [at the gold jewelry]. I just bought a lucky charm bead and now I want to take a look at the bracelet," said another customer.

At the shop's gold investment counter, many consumers have been making inquiries about gold bars, which has long been considered a safe investment, although experts recommend caution in the rising gold market.

At the shop's gold investment counter, many consumers have been inquiring about gold bars, which have long been considered a safe investment. However, experts recommend caution in the rising gold market.

"Many investors will buy gold bars for medium- to long-term investment based on their expected price as part of their overall family asset allocation. We suggest that investors be more rational in their decisions," said Li Yang, a senior gold investment analyst.