The Egyptian Ministry of Health has tightened health control measures at all ports of entry into the country, including airports, sea and land ports, to confront the transmission of West Nile fever.
This came after the health authorities in Israel announced the death of more than 36 people and the injury of 543 others as of last Thursday.
The Preventive Medicine Sector of the Ministry of Health issued a circular addressed to all ports of entry, calling on quarantine departments to activate and tighten health control procedures to prevent the infiltration of the virus causing the disease into the country.
The Ministry stressed the need to refer suspected cases of the disease to hospitals to evaluate the condition and immediately notify Ministry officials.
The Egyptian Ministry of Health obligated all airline companies and local agencies that operate routes with Israel, directly or indirectly, to exterminate insects on board before arriving at Egyptian airports and ports, in accordance with methods approved by the World Health Organization.
An official at the Ministry of Health confirmed that these measures aim to raise the level of preparedness at various ports of entry to monitor any cases of West Nile fever or other epidemic diseases.
He explained that Egypt has not received any notification from the WHO Regulations Coordinator about anything new in the spread of West Nile fever, but the quarantine authorities continue to raise their state of readiness to monitor any suspected cases.
In press statements, Dr. Dirar Balawi, a clinical drug treatment consultant for infectious diseases, pointed out that high temperatures increase concern about the spread of the West Nile virus, which is transmitted through the bite of the “Culex” mosquito and spreads among birds.
He explained that 80% of infected people do not suffer from any noticeable symptoms, while about 20% suffer from mild flu-like symptoms.
Symptoms of West Nile fever include fever, headache, body aches, nausea and vomiting, swollen lymph nodes, and rash. In rare cases (less than 1%), the virus can cause serious complications such as encephalitis and meningitis.
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