In Gaza, doctors are battling a sharp rise in rare paralytic illnesses among children, driven by Israel’s blockade and destroyed sanitation systems. This crisis, unfolding in 2025, has led to dozens of cases of acute flaccid paralysis and Guillain-Barré syndrome, with malnutrition weakening young bodies and allowing viruses to spread unchecked.
Rising Cases Alarm Health Workers
Health officials in Gaza report a dramatic increase in acute flaccid paralysis, a condition that causes sudden muscle weakness and can lead to breathing problems. Before the war intensified in 2023, doctors saw only a handful of cases each year, but recent months have brought nearly 100 new diagnoses.
Children under five make up many of these cases, with symptoms starting in the legs and spreading upward. Lab tests confirm enteroviruses as a key culprit, thriving in areas with poor hygiene and contaminated water.
The World Health Organization noted 32 cases among kids under 15 by late July 2025, a spike tied to better tracking but also real health breakdowns. Doctors at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis describe patients arriving daily, their conditions worsened by starvation.
Blockade Fuels Sanitation Nightmare
Israel’s military actions have wrecked Gaza’s water and waste systems, creating breeding grounds for dangerous viruses. Raw sewage floods streets in places like Khan Younis, spreading enteroviruses through fecal-oral routes similar to polio.
The blockade limits clean water, medicine, and food imports, making outbreaks harder to control. International groups warn that without repairs, more diseases will emerge.
- Sewage pools in crowded camps increase infection risks.
- Limited aid trucks face raids, cutting off vital supplies.
- Destroyed pipes leave millions without safe drinking water.
This setup has turned everyday life into a health hazard, with families struggling to find basic hygiene items.
Experts link the crisis to ongoing restrictions, which began tightening in 2023 and continue into 2025. Aid workers say the damage is deliberate, echoing global calls for change.
Malnutrition Weakens Young Victims
Starvation plays a big role in why children suffer most from these illnesses. Malnutrition robs bodies of vitamins needed for nerve repair, turning mild infections into severe paralysis.
Nearly 12,000 kids under five in Gaza face acute malnutrition, according to recent World Health Organization data. Hunger-related deaths hit 100 by mid-August 2025, with many more at risk.
At hospitals, malnourished children arrive too weak to fight off viruses. Doctors report permanent damage, like stunted growth and lifelong disabilities, from chronic food shortages.
A table below shows key malnutrition stats in Gaza for 2025:
| Issue | Number Affected | Main Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Acute Malnutrition in Kids Under 5 | 12,000 | Weakened immunity to viruses |
| Hunger-Related Deaths Since July | 74 | Including 24 children |
| Treated for Malnutrition in July | 13,000 | Rising hospital visits |
These numbers highlight how blockade-induced famine amplifies the paralysis surge.
Parents describe heartbreaking choices, like deciding who eats in a family. Without enough nutrients, recovery from illnesses like Guillain-Barré becomes nearly impossible.
Global Response and Calls for Action
World leaders and aid groups are raising alarms about Gaza’s health emergency. The United Nations has urged faster medical evacuations and more food aid, but progress is slow.
European officials have condemned Israel’s actions, with some calling the situation genocide-like, though Israel denies this. Polio vaccination drives in 2024 showed some success, but new threats like enteroviruses demand similar urgency.
Aid kitchens now produce more meals, dropping food prices slightly, yet raids on trucks persist. Humanitarians push for open borders to rebuild sanitation and deliver treatments.
Challenges for Gaza’s Overstretched Doctors
Medical teams work with scarce resources, lacking drugs for nerve conditions or equipment for breathing support. Three deaths from Guillain-Barré syndrome in 2025, including two children, underscore the toll.
Hospitals treat thousands for related issues, but antibiotic-resistant infections add complications. Doctors warn of a potential epidemic without outside help.
In overcrowded shelters, diseases spread fast among weakened populations. Efforts to test and isolate cases face blockade hurdles, leaving staff exhausted.
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