Fears of a deadly epidemic spreading among displaced people in Gaza

As the Gaza Strip grapples with the ravages of war and a collapsing health and environmental system, doctors have sounded the alarm about the potential spread of a new bacterial disease known as leptospirosis in displacement camps. This follows suspected cases among displaced people amidst an environment plagued by flooding, water pollution, and rodent infestations, raising fears of a new wave of epidemics that threaten the lives of thousands of families. The health system is already overwhelmed, and there is a severe shortage of diagnostic and treatment resources.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Ministry of Health announced that, as part of its ongoing monitoring of the epidemiological situation in the Gaza Strip, it had identified several suspected cases of leptospirosis. These cases were handled according to established protocols, and the necessary samples were collected and sent for testing to specialized laboratories outside the Strip.

The Ministry stated that all laboratory test results were negative, confirming that, to date, no confirmed cases of the disease have been recorded in the Gaza Strip. It categorically denied the validity of reports circulating about confirmed infections.

For his part, the director of medical relief in the Gaza Strip, Bassam Zaqout, warned of serious concerns about the spread of the disease, and spoke of recording five suspected cases in the southern areas of the Strip, four of whom are still in intensive care units, indicating the seriousness of the health condition of those infected.