Gaza health ministry declares polio epidemic

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.

Gaza health ministry declares polio epidemic

Gaza health ministry declares polio epidemic

Gaza health ministry declares polio epidemic

Gaza health ministry declares polio epidemic

As the Qingming Festival approaches this Friday, various traditional folk activities have been held across China, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the occasion.

With a 2,500-year history, Qingming Festival, or the Festival of Pure Brightness, observed in early April, uniquely combines ancestral worship with the celebration of spring. Falling on the 15th day after the spring equinox, this ritual-rich observance reflects China's enduring values of ancestral veneration and inspires deep introspection about what gives life meaning.

In Sijia Village, Huayin City, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, a unique swing festival is held to mark the occasion. Eighteen different types of traditional swings, such as the spinning wheel swing, the Bagua swing reminiscent of a rotating carousel, and the balance swing designed for two people, have attracted many visitors.

Historically, Sijia Village served as a military post guarding the strategic Tongguan pass, a former mountain pass and fortress located south of the confluence of the Wei and Yellow Rivers. The swing tradition in the village has its origins in military training exercises like climbing and river crossing. The local swing culture further developed as regional trade flourished, eventually evolving into the "swing festival" that continues today.

"It's very exciting and tests your skill, endurance, and most importantly, your arm strength. You need to maintain balance," said Qu Xiangyang, a visitor.

In Rudong County, Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province, another traditional Qingming activity takes place - kite flying.

Flying kites as a way of making wishes is an age-old Qingming custom in this region. As a result, the Qingming Festival in Nantong is also known as the "Kite Festival."

The local Banyao whistling kite making skills is listed as one of the first national intangible cultural heritage items.

According to a folk culture expert, people traditionally write the names of diseases or misfortunes on paper, attach it to a kite, and release it into the sky. This practice is believed to drive away illness and disaster, while also serving as a way to make wishes.

In south China's Guangdong Province, a large tug-of-war competition is underway in Maoming City. Teams from different towns and streets are competing, attracting many locals to cheer on their teams.

Tug-of-war, which originated during the late Spring and Autumn period (770 BC - 476 BC), became part of Qingming customs during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty once organized large-scale tug-of-war competitions for the festival.

"Tug-of-war became very popular in the Tang Dynasty, even emerging as the national sport. It originated in the Jingchu region and later spread across the country. In ancient Lingnan (Southern China), tug-of-war games were a common tradition. Through these events, people seek to pray for peace, prosperity, and abundant harvests," said Yao Guojun, vice dean of the College of Arts and Law, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology.

Traditional folk activities held for Qingming Festival