oPt: Caritas doctor in Gaza speaks out on a mounting rodent health crisis

Country: occupied Palestinian territory Source: Caritas Over 70.000 infection cases recorded in 2026 as displaced families are bitten in their sleep, antidotes run out and an exhausted health system struggles to cope Amid the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, a new devastating public health emergency is breaking: a massive rodent infestation that is spreading diseases. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 70,000 cases of ectoparasite infections and rodent-borne illness have been reported in Gaza since the start of 2026 alone. We publish the following Interview with one of Caritas Jerusalem’s staff working on the ground in Gaza, the doctor wishes to remain anonymous for security reasons. Doctor, can you take us back to the moment you first saw a rodent bite case in Gaza? When was it, and what was the patient’s condition? A colleague of mine, one of the best ones we have in our team, called me at midnight 45 days ago to ask what we needed to do for his brother, who had been bitten by a rat. The bite was on the index finger of his left hand. His brother, a 35-year-old, lives in a partially destroyed building surrounded by piles of rubble and solid waste. He was bitten by a rat while asleep. I told him to wash the bite thoroughly with soap and water, rinse away all soap, apply gauze to press the area, and go to the health centre. There, the doctor cleaned the bite, applied an antibiotic ointment, administered a tetanus immunisation, and prescribed oral antibiotics. The patient was advised to return if any symptoms develop. How frequently are you currently seeing rodent bite cases at your facility? Has the rate increased significantly in recent months? I regularly see and hear rats, among garbage and sewage, all around my house at night. Caritas health facilities open in the...

Original source: Relief Web