Respiratory syncytial virus exists since 1956, Egypt’s Minister of Health

CAIRO – 22 November 2022:  Egypt’s Minister of Health Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, said that Respiratory syncytial virus that has spread during the recent period, ‘is not new’ and that it existed since 1956.

"We are familiar with this virus, along with its treatment, symptoms and all its details” Abdel Ghaffar added In a televised statements, Tuesday.

He noted that the Ministry decided to hold a press conference “to discuss the virus in a message of reassurance to all citizens, and to prevent rumors.”

Egypt’s Health Minister explained that the fear that spread of the virus among citizens came as a result of Coronavirus effect, which we have been suffering from for 3 years.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Health stated that the syncytial virus is a cold that sometimes does not require cure, and may need treatment to relieve symptoms. He added that newborn children, elderly and those with chronic diseases who are infected will need interventions in hospitals.

While Amr Kandil, head of the preventive medicine sector at the Ministry of Health, confirmed that the syncytial virus is a respiratory virus that has existed for decades and is transmitted  not only in Egypt but also in the whole world, explaining that this virus is active in the fall season and intensifies in the winter.

Qandil added, in a telephone interview to the “Al-Hayat Al-Youm” program with Lubna Assal on Al-Hayat channel, that the syncytial virus runs from November to mid-February, explaining that its symptoms are sore throat, runny nose, headache, high temperature, and sometimes coughing occurs, and the patient may develop more than one symptom, saying that these symptoms are similar to influenza and corona.

He pointed out that the symptoms of influenza are more than the syncytial virus, but the average symptoms last from 5 to 7 days, stressing that 80% of the infected are children, and this virus was present until 2019, but the period of 2020 and 2021 disappeared due to the precautionary measures that led to reducing the appearance of the virus.