CAIRO – 19 May 2026: Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, confirmed that Egypt is completely free of any Ebola virus infections.
He noted that the Ministry of Health is continuously monitoring the situation in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO) to detect any suspected cases.
During a phone interview on Sada El Balad TV, he said, “The Ministry of Health is continuously monitoring the situation, and this matter has been discussed with the WHO. Egypt has no cases of Ebola.”
He added, “The Ebola virus outbreak occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The virus is not present in Egypt. Egypt has taken strong measures to monitor any suspected cases of Ebola. The virus is not airborne; transmission occurs during the symptomatic period. The Ministry of Health is coordinating with all relevant authorities to monitor any potential cases originating from outside Egypt.”
He continued, “Ebola is not transmitted through the air, but through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person. One of the first symptoms of Ebola is a high fever. Regarding travel restrictions and Egyptian measures, we have not yet reached that point.”
He explained, “The weakness of the health system in the Congo contributed to the spread of the Ebola virus. There is no scientific evidence that Ebola is transmitted epidemically through travel. If someone carrying the virus were to come to Egypt, we would prevent their entry. No infected individuals have arrived from the areas designated by the World Health Organization.”
He added, “Medical personnel are the most vulnerable to infection. The situation in Egypt is stable. Currently, we have raised the level of preparedness. Egypt is completely free of the virus, and we have increased preparedness at air and sea ports without imposing any travel restrictions.”
He pointed out that “we have more than 15 presidential initiatives covering the health needs of patients across Egypt. Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar is in Geneva for the World Health Organization meetings, where he discussed Egypt’s successful experience. Participation is no longer merely protocol; it reflects the role of the Egyptian state. The main reason for this is the presidential initiatives, which now address diseases through early detection and comprehensive public health coverage.”
He noted that Egypt had received its second certificate confirming it was free of trachoma. He explained that the Minister of Health emphasized during the meeting that Africa would not only accept decisions but also seek genuine partnerships in health policymaking, highlighting Egypt’s experience in treating hepatitis C.
He concluded, “Treating such a large number of cases has made Egypt the first and only country in the world to receive the World Health Organization’s gold certification. Furthermore, the latest global report recognized Egypt as an inspiring model to be emulated in achieving the goal of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030.”
Be Social
Comments
Leave a Comment