Egypt says no unusual Salmonella outbreak as it monitors cases abroad

Egypt has detected no unusual Salmonella outbreak linked to cases reported abroad, Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said on Wednesday, as health authorities monitor foodborne diseases and international health developments.

Egypt’s Health Ministry is conducting routine and event-based surveillance of foodborne illnesses, including Salmonella, while tracking assessments issued by international health authorities, Abdel Ghaffar said in a statement.

He said monitoring outbreaks abroad does not necessarily mean that a similar risk exists in Egypt, but is intended to strengthen early-warning systems and ensure that potential health risks are detected promptly.

Egypt’s assessment of its domestic epidemiological situation is based primarily on local surveillance data, investigations and epidemiological analysis, alongside reliable international information, Abdel Ghaffar said.

Belgium, Britain outbreaks under watch

Egypt is monitoring a Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak in Belgium that has resulted in at least 306 confirmed infections as of 25 Aug., with no deaths reported, Health Ministry spokesman Hossam Abdel Ghaffar said.

The outbreak has been linked to contaminated eggs, and recalls have covered products distributed in Belgium and Luxembourg, according to Belgian authorities.

Egypt is also monitoring a separate Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak in Britain, where the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported 207 confirmed cases as of 13 Aug., including one death.

Deputy Health Minister Amr Kandil said Egyptian surveillance teams were checking daily for unusual changes in infection rates and case patterns and investigating epidemiological alerts according to established scientific criteria.

Egypt has not detected any unusual outbreaks linked to the international events under review, Kandil said, adding that surveillance and investigations would continue to identify any changes at an early stage.

Egypt urges food safety precautions

The ministry urged consumers to follow basic food-safety measures, including:

• Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially before preparing or eating food and after using the toilet.

• Keeping raw and cooked foods separate and using separate utensils and surfaces when handling them.
• Cooking food thoroughly and ensuring it reaches safe temperatures.
• Storing food at appropriate temperatures and not leaving perishable foods unrefrigerated for extended periods.
• Following food-handling and storage rules and requirements.
• Buying food and food products from trusted sources and following official instructions regarding any products subject to warnings or recalls.

Radi Hamad, head of the ministry’s preventive medicine and public health sector, said rapid detection of cases, epidemiological investigations, and identification of possible sources of exposure were key to containing foodborne infections.

Tracking potentially contaminated food products and taking appropriate measures can help limit the spread of infection, he said.

The ministry said it would continue monitoring domestic and international developments through its surveillance system and specialised sectors to ensure that any unusual epidemiological changes are detected and addressed promptly.