No Ebola virus cases have been detected in Egypt, as authorities stepped up precautionary measures following reports of infections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Health Ministry said on Sunday.
The ministry has been closely monitoring developments in coordination with the World Health Organization and relevant international health authorities, Spokesman Hossam Abdel Ghaffar said.
Egypt has raised its level of preparedness and activated preventive measures at all air, sea and land entry points as part of its epidemiological surveillance and early warning system, he added.
Current risk assessments indicate that the likelihood of the disease spreading to Egypt remains low, the spokesman said.
Ebola is not transmitted as easily as respiratory diseases and requires direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person after symptoms appear, he stressed.
The virus is not contagious during its incubation period, reducing the chances of transmission through international travel when standard health screening and infection control procedures are in place.
The precautionary measures include health screening for arrivals from affected areas, monitoring some travellers for up to 21 days when necessary, and strengthening the readiness of epidemiological surveillance and rapid response teams.
The WHO currently considers the global risk level linked to the outbreak to be low, while higher risk assessments within Africa are tied mainly to local conditions in affected and neighbouringcountries, Abdel Ghaffar said.
The ministry urged the public to stick to official sources for information and avoid rumours, adding that Egypt’s health situation remained stable and that authorities continued to monitor global developments closely.
It also advised citizens travelling to affected areas to avoid non-essential travel, follow health guidance and contact health authorities if symptoms appear after returning.
