Talk:2024 Gaza Strip polio epidemic

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The following references may be useful when improving this article in the future: https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/08/1153166 https://www.who.int/news/item/16-08-2024-humanitarian-pauses-vital-for-critical-polio-vaccination-campaign-in-the-gaza-strip https://www.science.org/content/article/virus-causes-polio-has-been-found-gaza-here-s-why-grim-news https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2024/07/26/nx-s1-5049852/gaza-polio-who

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Interesting to note there is no mention of the suspected weaponization of the polio virus by Israel, a well-known actor in illegal biological warfare. Probably just a coincidence... — Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.242.185.73 (talk) 06:44, 16 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Other epidemics have entries for “Suspected Cases” and “Deaths” in the infobox; this article should have the same. JCSalomon (talk) 14:00, 8 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Can there be an "epidemic" without any known cases? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Boston UnCommon (talk • contribs) 18:54, 8 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

This article is properly using vetted secondary sources which state there’s an pandemic. If the result of putting “cases: zero” in the infobox results in the article looking like those vetted sources are actually lying propaganda, that’s a conclusion best left for the reader. JCSalomon (talk) 19:33, 8 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think that's right. The only source that claims there's an epidemic is the Gazan Health Ministry (GHM), which is not secondary. Secondary sources are much more circumspect, e,g: BBC says " the possibility of an outbreak of the highly infectious polio virus in Gaza after traces were found in wastewater." and doesn't even use the word 'epidemic'. Reuters says "It is very likely that polio has infected people ", and likewise doesn't mention 'epidemic' in its own voice, only attributing it to a declaration by the GHM Boston UnCommon (talk) 20:46, 8 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

There is definitely not a polio pandemic. FourPi (talk) 12:21, 16 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

There isn't an epidemic, either. In fact, there hasn't been a single reported case. Boston UnCommon (talk) 04:30, 17 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

There is now. FourPi (talk) 00:28, 23 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

yes. and one case does not an epidemic make Boston UnCommon (talk) 00:33, 23 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Currently it's one confirmed case and three cases of "acute flaccid paralysis", which are likely to be polio but unconfirmed. The polio salutation is more an issue of a looming disaster that needs to be averted. The title probably isn't suitable, but the topic is important. The article should possibly be expanded to include other infections, there are several infectious diseases issues that have been causing trouble in Gaza for months that are currently not covered anywhere on Wikipedia that I've seen. FourPi (talk) 13:37, 23 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Encyclopedia article are not written based on "likely but unconfirmed" things. They are written based on what is known fact. The known facts are one case of polio, which is a far cry from an epidemic, and even 4 cases would not be an epidemic. Typical definitions (per Epidemic) are 15 cases per 100,000 people for two consecutive weeks - which would mean for Gaza, with its population of around 2 million, 300 cases every week for at least 2 consecutive weeks - at least 600 reported and confirmed cases. We are not there, or anywhere near there.

If you want to write an article about infectious diseases in Gaza- go right ahead, but the current article is a ridiculous falsehood, there is no polio outbreak in Gaza. Boston UnCommon (talk) 14:12, 23 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

The title has already been changed to outbreak and that's what the sources in it say. I changed the first sentence to match. FourPi (talk) 02:02, 24 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I don't see any change to the title. Boston UnCommon (talk) 22:48, 24 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Another page has a smallpox "outbreak" with 2 cases, the 1978 smallpox outbreak in the United Kingdom. One confirmed + three suspected and possibly growing, is comparable to or bigger than 2 cases and finished in the 70s. Smallpox is a worse disease, but just for the use of the word outbreak. FourPi (talk) 02:07, 24 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

That case is different because smallpox has supposedly been eradicated, and those 2 cases include the last person to ever die from smallpox, a notable event in itself.

Further, that there may be other badly named articles doesn't justify creating more badly named ones. Boston UnCommon (talk) 13:56, 24 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

This one is at a very high risk of growing; that one won't. FourPi (talk) 11:09, 25 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

If it does, we'll write an article. We don't write article about things that might happen. Boston UnCommon (talk) 21:20, 25 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Of course the last smallpox case is notable, and I already said smallpox is more severe per case. My point was about the name "outbreak", that seemed to be your objection? And polio has been eradicated everywhere except Pakistan and Afghanistan, that's part of the notability here. FourPi (talk) 11:38, 25 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I thought I answered that. To repeat - that there may be other badly named articles doesn't justify creating more badly named ones.

And no, unlike Smallpox, polio has not been declared as eradicated. That term has a specific meaning, and requires a WHO declaration. Just last year, there were cases reported in DR Congo, Somalia, Nigeria and Yemen. Since 2021, there were case reported in just about every African country and CANADA. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, it is endemic. Boston UnCommon (talk) 21:31, 25 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

If you object to "outbreak" as well, then you could suggest a title that labels it "cases of polio" or "detection of polio", or something like that, below FourPi (talk) 13:23, 25 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Why would we have an article about detection of polio? It has been deteced in numerous countries - see this list - https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/pdfs/mm7319a4-H.pdf Boston UnCommon (talk) 21:33, 25 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

It has been proposed in this section that 2024 Gaza Strip polio epidemic be renamed and moved to 2024 Gaza Strip polio outbreak. A bot will list this discussion on the requested moves current discussions subpage within an hour of this tag being placed. The discussion may be closed 7 days after being opened, if consensus has been reached (see the closing instructions). Please base arguments on article title policy, and keep discussion succinct and civil. Please use {{subst:requested move}}. Do not use {{requested move/dated}} directly. Links: current log • target log • direct move

2024 Gaza Strip polio epidemic → 2024 Gaza Strip polio outbreak – There's still a small number of cases, and a prompt vaccination campaign could hopefully avert an epidemic. FourPi (talk) 11:09, 25 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

No. One case is not an outbreak. Sporadic cases of polio are very common and don't justify an article Boston UnCommon (talk) 21:34, 25 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]