Palestinian Health Min. warns Gaza faces rising health risks

Palestinian Minister of Health Majed Abu Ramadan warned Friday that widespread rodents in Gaza, driven by massive destruction, debris and untreated waste, pose escalating health risks and threaten the population. In a press statement, he said current conditions in Gaza have created a fertile environment for the spread of rats and mice, increasing the likelihood of outbreaks of serious diseases including hantavirus, plague, leptospirosis, salmonella, and tularemia. Abu Ramadan called on the World Health Organization and international health bodies to intervene urgently by providing rodent control materials and strengthening prevention and containment measures. He noted that more than one million people are living in fragile conditions, including tents or in the open, heightening their exposure to such health threats. He added that the health situation of children is becoming increasingly critical, with thousands suffering permanent disabilities due to the war, including loss of limbs or senses, alongside rising malnutrition, which increases vulnerability to disease and mortality rates.