Egypt’s Health Minister Urges Citizens To Report Flu Symptoms To Contain MERS

Egypt’s Health Minister Adel Adawy has called on the country’s citizens to report early symptoms of influenza as soon as possible in order to avoid the spread of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

In a statement issued on Sunday by the health ministry, Adawy said that there were 254 cases of MERS in 11 countries worldwide, with 94 reported deaths.

The statement further added that there are no known vaccines against the coronavirus, which causes the illness.

Egyptian state TV reported on Saturday that an Egyptian man was diagnosed with MERS, making him the first detected case in the country.

The man is reportedly being treated at a hospital in the Cairo district of Abbassiya and is in stable condition, despite having pneumonia, Adawy said.

Adawy’s remarks show the level of concern in the health ministry, which is monitoring those arriving in Egypt from countries where the virus has recently spread.

The ministry’s anti-influenza committee has called an urgent meeting for Monday to discuss ways to avoid the spread of MERS in Egypt.

Source : Ahram online