'Alarming' rise in meningitis cases in Gaza, health officials warn

Health officials in Gaza said on Tuesday that there has been "an alarming increase" in cases of meningitis in the strip. 

"The Ministry of Health has recorded a significant increase in the number of suspected and confirmed cases of meningitis, especially among children under five years of age, the group most vulnerable to the disease and its serious complications," the statement said. 

"The decline in the level of healthcare - with the closure and destruction of hospitals and primary care centers - the significant deterioration in drug stocks, and the shortage of childhood vaccinations is limiting emergency response efforts," it added. 

"The catastrophic conditions in shelters, the severe shortage of drinking water, the spread of sewage, and the accumulation of waste are driving the health situation to further deterioration," health officials warned. 

"The Ministry of Health issues an urgent appeal to all concerned parties to intervene immediately and improve health and living conditions to reduce the spread of the disease."