The World Health Organization recently again included Israel in its Global Polio Eradication Initiative, citing the recent uptick in polio cases in Jerusalem, where a growing cluster of cases diagnosed in the capital in recent weeks.
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Wild poliovirus has been eradicated in all continents except Asia, and as of 2020, Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries where the disease is still classified as endemic. WHO's list of countries where the virus has resurfaced currently 28 nations, among them Israel, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia and Ukraine are also on the list, which names countries where the virus resurfaced.
Last month, the first case of polio in more than 30 years was confirmed in Jerusalem, spurring deep concerns and a renewed vaccination drive.
Last month, the first case of polio was discovered in Israel for the first time in 30 years. Since then, 10 other cases have been diagnosed, but health officials estimated last week that the actual number is much higher.
"The data suggests a higher infection rate, which is increasing by 5-10% daily," a Health Ministry official told Channel 12."Most polio patients are asymptomatic so the data isn't accurate. Right now, we're looking into testing sewage systems in cities where the virus has been discovered and according to that, we'll decide on the scope of a vaccination campaign."
Meanwhile, Head of Public Health Services Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis told the Knesset Health Committee that fake news, school closures, and a general skepticism towards vaccines are to blame for the rise in polio cases.
"Due to fake news, suddenly everything has a question mark over it. Even vaccines which we have had for years and which we've seen eliminate diseases, suddenly they are being questioned," she said.
"There are entire communities who choose not to get vaccinated for ideological reasons or technical reasons. They have too many children to bring to get vaccinated, or the schedule is too much to keep up with."
She further explained that from 2005-2013, polio vaccinations were scaled back as the disease was eradicated, which means many babies did not get all the necessary doses.
"We are definitely seeing an outbreak of polio in Israel. It reaches unvaccinated pockets and is spreading," Alroy-Preis warned.
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