Dangerous disease outbreak hits Gaza

In Gaza, the threats facing children include dangerous diseases taking hold as health conditions deteriorate and access to medical treatment becomes increasingly difficult. Spinal meningitis, an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord is one such disease, sparking growing alarm following reports of infections and deaths among children and infants.

Medical experts have issued warnings regarding the severity of the illness and the speed at which it can progress. At the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis, concerns over the spread of the infection are mounting.  The Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported approximately 20 cases of bacterial meningitis per month.

The risk of transmission is heightened in overcrowded displacement centres, where entire families live in cramped tents. A lack of clean water and failing sanitation services create an environment ripe for the spread of infectious diseases among children.