Aha Dua Permata: Russia tightens health measures on flights from Egypt following spread of unknown disease

Tuesday, 18 July 2023

Russia tightens health measures on flights from Egypt following spread of unknown disease

Passengers are seen in front of a departures board at Sheremetyevo International Airport amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outside Moscow, Russia June 4, 2020. Reuters

Russia’s sanitary watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, said on Monday that it has enhanced security protocols for flights from Egypt following the outbreak of an unidentified disease in that country.

"In light of the current situation, Rospotrebnadzor has tightened sanitary and quarantine controls with respect to flights from Egypt, including using the Perimeter automated information system," it said.

According to the watchdog, symptoms of the disease that has been registered in Egypt resemble those of dengue fever. The watchdog said it is in contact with the Egyptian side and international organizations to learn more about the disease, risks of its trans-border proliferation, preventive and epidemic measures.

Dengue fever is caused by the dengue virus, which is transmitted via Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Dengue fever cannot be caught from being close to an infected person, it can be contracted only from the bite of an infected mosquito, the watchdog noted.

"Rospotrebnadzor warns tourists planning to vacation in Egypt: in order to avoid getting insect-borne infectious and parasitic diseases, please observe precautions: wear clothing that maximally protects the skin, use mosquito repellents, and put mosquito nets over doors and windows. When back home, consult a doctor if you feel sick and don’t forget to tell the doctor where you have come from," it added.

Health control and quarantine measures on flights from Egypt have been strengthened due to the spread of an unknown disease in Upper Egypt, a statement from the Russian supervisory authority said.

Egyptian TV host Amr Adib on Saturday reported that 200 people in Qena governorate were infected with a strange disease which symptoms included high fever, headache, fatigue, and stomach pain.

During his show on the “al-Hekaya” (The Story) show on MBC Masr, Adib said that the Ministry of Health and Population moved and took urgent measures into the matter.

The Egyptian Ministry of Health issued a statement on Sunday, after 250 people from the village of al-Aleqat, Qena Governorate, came down with symptoms from a mysterious disease of unknown cause.

The Egyptian Health Ministry in its statement explained that the symptoms that patients suffer from do not form a unified pattern, range from mild to moderate, and do not require hospitalization.