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Deadly Guillain-Barré Syndrome Outbreak Strikes Gaza Amid Water Contamination and Overcrowding, Children Most Affected.
A deadly outbreak of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is rapidly spreading across the Gaza Strip, health officials and humanitarian agencies have confirmed, compounding an already dire humanitarian crisis caused by war, famine, and total health system collapse.
According to medical workers on the ground, the outbreak is being fueled by widespread contamination of drinking water, poor sanitation, and extreme overcrowding in shelters and camps. The syndrome, a rare but serious neurological disorder, is causing paralysis, respiratory failure, and death, particularly among children—who are now the most vulnerable group in the population.
A Crisis Within a Crisis
Gaza, already grappling with severe food shortages, collapsed medical infrastructure, and the ongoing blockade, now faces a health emergency with little to no capacity to respond. The region’s hospitals, many of which have been destroyed or are non-functional due to the conflict, lack the facilities and medication required to diagnose or treat GBS patients effectively.
“There is no access to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), the standard treatment for Guillain-Barré,” said Dr. Ameen Al-Farra, a neurologist working with a field medical unit in southern Gaza. “Patients—many of them children—are becoming paralyzed and dying within days. We are helpless.”
Understanding Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Guillain-Barré Syndrome is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system attacks the peripheral nerves. It often follows infections and can cause progressive muscle weakness, numbness, and in severe cases, complete paralysis.
In Gaza, medical experts say the outbreak is likely linked to intestinal infections and **viruses spread through contaminated water , exacerbated by the collapse of wastewater treatment and sanitation infrastructure due to months of bombardment and blockade.
Children at the Forefront of Danger
Aid organizations report that children under 12 make up the majority of new GBS cases. Malnourishment, poor hygiene, and lack of access to clean water have rendered them especially susceptible.
“Some children are presenting with weakness in the legs that rapidly progresses to full-body paralysis,” said a Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) spokesperson. “We are seeing an alarming increase in both cases and deaths.”
Already facing famine, cholera outbreaks, and trauma-related injuries, the addition of GBS to Gaza’s growing list of health catastrophes is straining what little remains of humanitarian aid capacity.
No Treatment, No Supplies, No Way Out
Efforts to contain the outbreak or provide emergency medical intervention have been hampered by border closures, Israeli-imposed restrictions on the entry of medical supplies, and continued airstrikes. Health officials say the absence of IVIG, plasma exchange equipment, and even basic respiratory support devices has rendered the region powerless against the disease.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed deep concern, calling for immediate international intervention to deliver essential medical supplies and clean water into Gaza. However, attempts to access the enclave remain limited.
Calls for Urgent Action
Human rights groups and UN agencies are urging global powers to prioritize humanitarian access to Gaza, warning that the combination of famine, disease, and now a paralyzing neurological outbreak could result in mass deaths, particularly among children.
Source: Palestine info source
Gaza faces a deadly outbreak of Guillain-Barré syndrome, driven by contaminated water and overcrowding, with no treatment available. Children are most at risk, as cases and deaths rise alongside famine and disease.#GazaGenocide#Aqsaunderattack#europe #Gaza #Palestine pic.twitter.com/81VNGcXWoJ
— Palestine Info Center (@palinfoen) August 5, 2025