They survived the bombs, but not the virus: Fatal illness spreads in Gaza
They survived the bombs, but not the virus: Fatal illness spreads in Gaza
Marwa Kalloub, a 38-year-old mother, never anticipated that her daughter Mariam would succumb to illness while recovering from the trauma of bombardment. The child, who had endured months of relentless airstrikes, was admitted to the hospital with flu-like symptoms—only to leave it lifeless days later.
Her aunt, Iman Kalloub, recounted the tragedy to Middle East Eye. “Mariam had no prior health issues,” she said. “Before her death, she suffered from intense coughing, vomiting, and a fever that left her unable to eat.”
“We expected her recovery to take time, but we never thought it would end this way,” Kalloub added.
In Gaza, where Israeli restrictions have eroded public health for years, a common illness has turned deadly. The region’s crumbling medical infrastructure, compounded by limited testing and shortages of equipment, has made it hard to track the outbreak. A new strain of the virus is sweeping through communities already weakened by ongoing conflict.
Mariam, eight years old, was taken to Rantisi Hospital in early January. Once a hub for treating pediatric kidney disease and cancer, the facility now focuses on respiratory and digestive ailments due to repeated Israeli attacks. Despite the Palestinian Ministry of Health’s attempts to stabilize services, the hospital remains overwhelmed.
Her mother rushed Mariam after she developed breathing problems, but long waits for care were common. “Doctors could only provide oxygen, not even IV nutrition,” Kalloub explained. “They knew they couldn’t save her.”
The family had hoped for relief during the October ceasefire. With repairs underway, they sent Mariam back to school. Yet the virus claimed her life, leaving many to question how a child who endured war could fall victim to disease.
“Two years of conflict didn’t kill her. A simple virus did,” Kalloub said, reflecting on the loss.
Health system under siege
As medical staff battle with scarce resources, the virus spreads unchecked. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of al-Shifa Medical Complex, noted that emergency cases have surged by 200 percent. “Most patients have respiratory infections, high fever, and severe weight loss,” he said.
Overcrowded shelters, polluted water, and malnourishment have intensified the crisis. “Bed occupancy has reached 150 to 200 percent,” Abu Salmiya stated. “The virus could be influenza, a variant, or even Covid-19.”
A recent WHO report highlighted the scale of the disaster. It found 55 percent of vital medications were inaccessible, while 71 percent of basic supplies were depleted. “Diagnosis and treatment are nearly impossible,” he said. “Immunity is so compromised that even mild infections lead to complications.”
Despite the ceasefire, UN agencies reported last month that 77 percent of Gazans still face severe food shortages. This vulnerability has made the population susceptible to rapid disease transmission, with entire households affected.
