Egypt to Launch Anti-Measles, Rubella Campaign Tomorrow

The Egyptian Minister of Health Hala Zayed announced on Saturday the launching of a nationwide vaccination campaign against measles and rubella free of charge for Egyptian and non-Egyptian children during the period between March 8 to 26.

This campaign comes within the framework of President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi’s vision to boost public health that affects achieving sustainable development.

The ministry’s official spokesperson Khaled Megahed said that the campaign aims to vaccinate nearly 16 million children across Egypt.

Megahed continued that more than more than 5,000 doctors will participate in the campaign. He stressed that the campaign aims to keep Egypt free from measles and rubella.

It is noteworthy that Egypt has recently launched an anti-polio vaccination campaign in February for children who are less than four years in all medical units nationwide.

According to Health Minister, Hala Zayed, about 16.5 million children were immunised in all governors of Egypt.

"The national campaign was carried out at an approximate cost of 84 million pounds (about $4.8 million USD)," the Ministry’s spokesman Khaled Megahed said.

With regard to coronavirus, the tests of 2,166 suspected cases in Egypt since January till now are negative.

“There were more 15 positive cases,” the Health Ministry said in a in a press release.

Zayed pointed out that the 15 positive cases include the 12 confirmed cases, which were detected today on a Nile cruise ship heading to the southern city of Luxor from Aswan as well as an Egyptian national returning from Serbia passing by France and two foreigners.

"All the confirmed cases had been moved to the Negelah Central Hospital in Marsa Matrouh, while those who were in contact had been submitted to a 14-day quarantine," Zayed noted.

The minister said that the Egyptian patient, who was infected with the CONVID-19 on Thursday, had been moved to the hospital.

“Also, the health condition of the infected case (a foreigner), who was detected on Sunday, is good and improving,” the minister stated, adding that nearly 2,500 people, who were in contact with the case, had been quarantined and all of their tests were negative.

Moreover, 61 suspected cases, which came back from Umrah, were negative.

The minister affirmed that the first coronavirus case had left the quarantine after he had recovered, adding that any suspected case nationwide will be announced in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Health Ministry raises its preparedness at all the country’s ports to monitor the virus developments.