Joint pain vomiting and difficulty breathing An unknown virus is spreading in Gaza causing deaths among healthy individuals

In a desperate attempt to cope with the rising influx of patients, specialized hospitals, such as Rantisi—a center for children with cancer and kidney disease—have been repurposed to treat respiratory and gastrointestinal infections after most of the specialized facilities were destroyed, according to a report by Middle East Eye.

Hospitals in the Gaza Strip have recorded repeated deaths in recent weeks of healthy individuals—with no pre-existing conditions—after contracting an unknown respiratory virus, according to Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex.

The virus is spreading amidst the near-total collapse of the healthcare system after more than two years of war and blockade. Even the common cold has become a cause of death due to shortages of medicine, lack of diagnostic testing, and the breakdown of immunity resulting from famine affecting 77% of the population, according to UN reports.

In statements to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Abu Salmiya described the symptoms as lasting for about 14 days and including high fever, severe headache, joint pain, vomiting, and respiratory difficulties that rapidly progress to fatal pneumonia.

He explained that the virus—whether it is a mutated influenza or a new strain of coronavirus—has not yet been identified due to a lack of laboratory capacity.

He emphasized that deaths are no longer limited to children and the elderly, but have also affected healthy individuals, reflecting its virulence and danger in a collapsing healthcare system.