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August 19, 2024

First Case of Polio Identified in Gaza in 10-Month-Old Baby
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U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres is calling for a "polio pause"
to conduct an urgent vaccination campaign inside Gaza after health
authorities confirmed a 10-month-old infant had contracted the highly
contagious disease.

Secretary-General António Guterres: "Let's be clear: The ultimate
vaccine for polio is peace and an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. But
in any case, a polio pause is a must. It is impossible to conduct a
polio vaccination campaign with war raging all over."

The 10-month-old baby is Gaza's first known case of polio in a quarter
of a century. Overwhelmed parents expressed fear over yet another threat
to their families' lives.

Elham Nassar: "We're tired of this life we are living - no food, no
drink, no medicines. What are we supposed to do in this life? At the
least, we need medicines for our children, to protect them from being
infected with the polio virus that's now spreading across Gaza. You must
find a solution to our situation. We need vaccines. We need medicine. We
need proper sanitation. We want you to save us before it's too late. Or
how long are we supposed to wait? Should we wait until we watch our
children die and become paralyzed, and then become helpless to do
anything for them?"



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