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 never anticipated that her daughter Mariam would perish from a virus after being admitted with flu-like symptoms. The 38-year-old mother thought her child’s natural resistance and basic medication would suffice.
Yet in Gaza, where Israeli sanctions have eroded immune defenses and healthcare infrastructure lies in ruins, a common ailment became lethal. “Mariam had no prior health issues,” her aunt, Iman Kalloub, told Middle East Eye. “Before her death, she suffered from intense coughing, vomiting, and a high temperature. She stopped eating altogether,” Kalloub said.
“So many in Gaza were battling this virus that we expected her recovery to take time. We never thought it would end this way,” she added. In recent weeks, a new strain of the virus has spread swiftly through communities already battered by two years of conflict and a failing medical system.
The Struggle for Survival
Doctors at Rantisi Hospital, once a key center for treating pediatric kidney disease and cancer, now focus on respiratory and digestive infections, as well as chronic conditions. Despite the Palestinian Ministry of Health’s efforts to restore services, the facility remains overwhelmed. Mariam’s mother rushed her to the hospital after the girl developed severe breathing difficulties.
“She waited hours for a pediatrician due to the sheer number of sick children,” Kalloub explained. Scans revealed her lungs were in critical condition, and treatment was nearly impossible. “They could only give her oxygen. Even intravenous feeding was unavailable. Perhaps they knew they couldn’t save her,” she said.
With hopes renewed by the October ceasefire, the family began rebuilding their home and sending Mariam back to school. The idea that a child who endured months of bombardment would succumb to a virus seemed unthinkable. “Two years of war didn’t kill her. A small virus did,” Kalloub reflected.
Health System in Crisis
Doctors have struggled to define the disease or implement a swift response, as the health system crumbles under two years of Israeli attacks. “Gaza faces an unprecedented crisis due to the blockade,” said Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of al-Shifa Medical Complex. “Few households are without an infected member,” he noted, suggesting the virus could be influenza, a variant, or even Covid-19.
Emergency admissions have surged by 200%, with most patients presenting respiratory infections, fever, extreme weight loss, and joint pain. Severe pneumonia has hospitalized thousands, some in intensive care, while deaths continue to mount. The World Health Organization-led Health Cluster reported in November 2025 that most Gaza medical facilities cannot offer full services.
According to the report, 55% of essential medicines are unavailable, and 71% of basic supplies are depleted. “Diagnosis and treatment are nearly impossible without proper equipment,” Abu Salmiya stated. Bed occupancy has reached 150-200%, exacerbated by overcrowded shelters, leaky tents, and contaminated water. He emphasized that weakened immunity, caused by famine and malnutrition, has made patients, especially children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses, highly vulnerable to complications and fatalities.
Humanitarian Strain
Despite the ceasefire beginning on 10 October, UN agencies noted last month that 77% of Gaza’s population still experiences acute food insecurity. This has left many at risk of disease, as the health system continues to struggle under the weight of war and limited resources.
