Israel Hamas agree to 3 day zoned pauses for polio vaccination drive
Israel-Hamas have agreed on a ceasefire in some areas of Gaza for three days each. The first case of polio was found in Gaza after 25 years on August 23, after which 6.40 lakh children will be vaccinated against polio.
World Health Organization (WHO) official Rik Peeperkorn said that the vaccination campaign in Palestinian areas will start on Sunday (September 1). He said that the ceasefire will be between 6 am and 3 pm local time.
The WHO official said that the vaccination campaign will start in Central Gaza, where there will be a ceasefire for three days. Then it will move towards southern Gaza, where there will be another ceasefire for three days. After that the vaccination drive will be carried out in northern Gaza. Peeperkorn said that if needed, the ceasefire can be extended till the fourth day in every area.
Polio virus enters the body through the mouth and nose
The polio virus enters the body through the mouth and nose, then settles in the throat and intestines. There it starts increasing its number rapidly. In about a week, it starts spreading in the tonsils and immune system. The virus next targets the blood flowing in the body, through which it spreads throughout the body.
The virus cripples the body by attacking the central nervous system
In most cases, during this journey from the intestines to the blood, the body’s immune system destroys the virus. But, if the body is unable to do so, then the polio virus manages to penetrate the central nervous system.
According to the CDC, some people infected with the polio virus show severe symptoms of the disease. The virus attacks the brain, spinal cord and nervous system of these people. One in 200 infected people becomes paralyzed. 5 to 10 percent of paralysis patients die.
The war in Gaza has been going on for nearly 11 months
It has been almost 11 months since this war between Israel and Hamas. Last year on 7 October, Hamas terrorists attacked Israel. On the same day Israel declared war. In this, about 1200 Israeli citizens were killed.
The terrorists took about 250 people hostage and took them to Gaza. According to Israel, 111 people are still in Hamas custody. This includes 39 dead bodies. Among the hostages are 15 women and 2 children under 5 years of age.
According to the Israeli army, they have killed more than 15 thousand Hamas terrorists so far. Due to the war, about 18 lakh people have left their homes in Gaza. Thousands of people have also had to leave their homes in Israel and South Lebanon.
