How Conflict Zones Fuel Pandemics

Polio Emerges Amidst Gaza's War

Throughout history, the relationship between war and pandemics has been one of mutual reinforcement. Wars have often created the conditions for pandemics to emerge and spread. The intertwining of war and disease has left its scar on humanity from ancient battles to modern-day conflicts.

More recently, the ongoing war in Gaza have underscored the continued relevance of the relationship between war and pandemics. The resurgence of diseases such as polio serves as a reminder that war still plays a critical role in the spread of pandemics, threatening not just local populations but global public health.

The Impact of War on Disease

From the Peloponnesian War to the Crusades, and through the Age of Exploration and colonization, wars have consistently been accompanied by the spread of devastating diseases, amplifying their destructive impact on societies.

The 20th century, marked by two World Wars, further highlighted this deadly interplay. World War I was followed by the 1918 influenza pandemic, often called the Spanish flu, which infected a third of the world's population and claimed an estimated 50 million lives. The movement of troops, overcrowded military camps, and the global nature of the war facilitated the rapid spread of the virus. And World War II saw significant outbreaks of diseases such as typhus, malaria, and tuberculosis, exacerbated by the destruction of infrastructure, displacement of millions, and scarcity of medical supplies. The aftermath of the war, with millions living in refugee camps and war-torn cities, further compounded these health crises.

The latter half of the 20th century continued to witness the link between war and pandemics. The Vietnam War saw a resurgence of diseases like dengue fever and polio, exacerbated by the use of chemical defoliants and the destruction of the natural environment. The Gulf War and subsequent conflicts in the Middle East have also been associated with outbreaks of infectious diseases, like malaria and tuberculosis.

And today, we are seeing the spread of monkey pox in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country that has long struggled with conflict and infectious diseases. The resurgence of monkey box is exacerbated by the dire conditions in cobalt mines, where miners live in overcrowded, unsanitary environments. Instability has also displaced millions into refugee camps with limited healthcare, allowing monkey pox to spread beyond endemic areas.

Polio Emerges in Gaza

In August 2024, Gaza announced the confirmation of its first polio case in 25 years. Polio, a disease that had been nearly eradicated worldwide, is now reemerging as a threat there. Years of conflict, blockades, and restricted access to essential resources reaching today's near-total destruction of the healthcare system by the recent Israeli war on Gaza have decimated Gaza's healthcare infrastructure. The few operating hospitals are overwhelmed, medical supplies are scarce, and vaccination rates have plummeted. The ongoing conflict has created conditions that are ripe for the spread of multiple infectious diseases, including polio, hepatitis, and waterborne illnesses.

The blockade and repeated bombings made it impossible for vaccination campaigns to reach all children, leaving large portions of the population vulnerable. The sanitation infrastructure has also been severely compromised, with the population lacking access to clean water and proper waste disposal, further increasing the risk of disease transmission.

There is a growing concern among health experts that the polio virus in Gaza could mutate into a new variant, like monkey pox, particularly if vaccination efforts continue to falter. This potential new variant could then spread beyond Gaza's borders, undoing decades of progress in the fight against polio. The situation is further complicated by the prevalence of other diseases in Gaza, such as hepatitis, which is spread through poor sanitation and overcrowded living conditions. The combination of these factors has created a public health crisis that threatens not only Gaza but the wider region and the world.

Efforts to Prevent the Spread of Polio in Gaza

International non-governmental organizations managed to get into Gaza 1.2 million polio vaccines on August 27 and are currently mobilizing resources to conduct vaccination campaigns during a three-day humanitarian pause which is set to end today.

At Anera's clinics, set up in crowded areas where displaced families are sheltering, our health professionals have been conducting awareness sessions since the first case emerged in Gaza on August 16, 2024. Our polio awareness sessions cover topics practicing good hand hygiene. Our biggest message, however, is the importance of getting vaccinated against polio.

Anera's Gaza team is hosting at our clinics mobile vaccination teams, who are vaccinating children under 10 years old.

The Urgent Need for Action in Gaza

What is truly needed in Gaza is a ceasefire. Without a ceasefire, the logistical challenges and security risks will continue to impede the delivery of vaccines - as well as deliveries of humanitarian aid - potentially leading to a catastrophic public health crisis.

The situation in Gaza reflects a broader pattern where war and conflict fuel the spread and evolution of infectious diseases. Limited healthcare, displacement, and poor living conditions create an environment where diseases can thrive and mutate, potentially leading to new variants and global pandemics. As the world contends with COVID-19, emerging health threats in conflict zones highlight the urgent need for global attention, since outbreaks in one region can quickly escalate into worldwide crises, especially with the rise of resistant variants.

The lessons are clear: war and pandemics are deeply intertwined, and the consequences of neglecting health in conflict zones can be catastrophic. Addressing these issues requires a coordinated global response that goes beyond immediate humanitarian aid to include long-term investments in healthcare infrastructure, vaccination campaigns, and conflict resolution.

"We cannot vaccinate children under a sky full of bombs and strikes. We cannot vaccinate children who are forced to flee, who are running for their lives."