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
In her darkest fears, Marwa Kalloub never thought her daughter Mariam would succumb to a virus after being admitted with flu-like symptoms. The 38-year-old mother believed basic medicine and the child’s natural defenses would suffice.
Yet in Gaza, where months of Israeli bombing have eroded immunity and the health system lies in ruins, a common illness turned deadly. “Mariam had no prior health issues,” her aunt Iman Kalloub told Middle East Eye. “Before she passed, she suffered from severe coughing, vomiting, and a high temperature. She refused to eat at all.”
“So many people in Gaza were infected with this virus that we expected her recovery to take time. We never imagined it would end like this.”
A mutated strain fuels the crisis
Recent weeks have seen a rapidly spreading virus sweep through Gaza, targeting communities already battered by two years of conflict and a crumbling healthcare network. Health officials remain uncertain about its exact nature, citing restricted testing and shortages of medical supplies that leave residents exposed to unpredictable outcomes.
Mariam, eight years old, was hospitalized at Rantisi Hospital on 11 January. Once a hub for treating childhood kidney disease and cancer, the facility now focuses on respiratory and gastrointestinal ailments due to repeated Israeli attacks. Despite efforts by the Palestinian Ministry of Health to restore services, the hospital is overwhelmed.
“Two years of war didn’t kill her. A small virus did,” said Kalloub, recounting how her mother rushed Mariam after she developed severe breathing difficulties. “She waited hours for a pediatrician because of the sheer number of sick children.”
Doctors discovered her lungs were in critical condition, with treatment options limited to oxygen support. “They couldn’t even administer intravenous nutrition. Perhaps they knew they couldn’t save her,” the aunt added.
Humanitarian catastrophe intensifies
With hospitals urging families to keep children indoors, panic has gripped Gaza as the illness spreads. “Emergency admissions have tripled, with most patients battling respiratory infections, high fevers, and extreme weight loss,” said Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of al-Shifa Medical Complex. “Joint pain and severe complications are also common.”
“Gaza is experiencing an unparalleled humanitarian and health crisis due to the Israeli blockade,” Abu Salmiya noted. “Hardly a household remains unaffected.”
A November 2025 report from the World Health Organization-led Health Cluster revealed that 55% of essential medications and 71% of basic medical supplies are unavailable. “Diagnosis and treatment are nearly impossible without labs or beds,” he said, explaining that bed occupancy has hit 150-200%.
Overcrowded displacement camps, faulty shelters, and polluted water sources have accelerated the disease’s spread. Vulnerable groups—children, the elderly, expectant mothers, and those with chronic illnesses—are bearing the brunt. Malnutrition and famine have left immune systems fragile, causing severe complications among patients with kidney disease, cancer, and heart conditions.
Though a ceasefire began on 10 October, UN agencies reported last month that 77% of Gaza’s population still faces acute food shortages. This vulnerability has made the population more susceptible to illness, turning a routine ailment into a life-threatening crisis.
