GAZA, (PIC)
Palestinian health officials have issued a serious warning over growing public health risks in the Gaza Strip, as widespread rodent infestations threaten to trigger disease outbreaks amid severe environmental deterioration.
Palestinian health minister Majed Abu Ramadan said the rapid spread of rats is being fueled by the accumulation of rubble and untreated waste, creating conditions highly conducive to the transmission of infectious diseases.
In a statement released Friday, the Ministry of Health warned that the current environment in Gaza has become increasingly favorable for rodent proliferation, raising the likelihood of dangerous epidemics among the population.
The ministry explained that diseases can spread through direct contact, such as bites, or indirectly via rodent urine and droppings, as well as through parasites like fleas and ticks.
Among the diseases of concern are hantavirus, plague, leptospirosis (rat fever), salmonella, and tularemia, all of which pose serious health risks under current conditions.
Abu Ramadan called on the World Health Organization and international health bodies to intervene urgently by supplying rodent control materials and strengthening prevention and containment measures.
He noted that more than one million people in Gaza are living in fragile conditions, either in tents or without adequate shelter, significantly increasing their exposure to these health threats.
The minister also warned of worsening conditions for children, citing thousands of cases of permanent disabilities caused by the Israeli genocide, including amputations and loss of senses.
He added that widespread malnutrition is further increasing vulnerability to disease and raising mortality risks.
He stressed that the current environmental and health conditions pose a direct threat to the lives and future of infants and children in Gaza, renewing calls for urgent international action to ensure healthcare protection and improve living conditions.
