35. Morag, A., 'Abed, Y., Schoub, B. D., Lifshitz, A. and Zakai-Rones, Z. Enteric Viral Infections in Gaza Children - Incidence and Associated Factors and Phenomena. Israel Journal of Medical Sciences 1995; 31: 49-53.

The study described in this article was aimed at clarifying the extent of interference of enteric agents with oral polio vaccine in Gaza children. This believed to be responsible for the failure of the vaccine in producing adequate protection. The study group comprised 120 pregnant women and their newborn selected from among Jabalia women who delivered at Shifa Hospital. The babies were followed for the first year of their life. Enteroviruses, including polioviruses, were isolated in 25.3% of stool samples obtained from healthy babies and in 7.9% of samples from babies with diarrhea. The authors interpret this result as suggesting that diarrhea of bacterial etiology is more common in these babies. Rotaviruses were isolated in less than 2% of the cases. The authors conclude that harmless enterovirus strains might play a protective role by interfering with more virulent strains.