NGOs: 1,200 infected with dengue fever in Red Sea governorate

CAIRO – 1 October 2017: The Ministry of Health announced the escalating percentage of people infected with Degnue fever at Al-Qusair city in the Red Sea governorate. The number of infected individuals reached 1,200, according to estimates from NGOs that hosted the infected within their premises; most of whom are children and elders.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. The symptoms of the disease manifest from three to fourteen days after infection.

According to a press release issued by the Health Ministry, patients infected with such a disease have developed fevers, headaches, general body aches and abdominal pain with occasional vomiting and/or diarrhea.

According to Khaled Megahed, the official spokesman to the Ministry of Health, the ministry has sent a team of specialized doctors to conduct surveillance on the city as well as its neighboring villages.

“The team found the presence of the Aedes aegypti larvae and adult mosquitoes at the sites where cases were infected. Consequently, immediate control measures for the dengue vector were taken to end the disease swiftly,” said Megahed.

According to Megahed, all patients have shown improvement after hospitalization and intense medical care. They did not show any additional complications post hospitalization. Only one death was reported for a 63-year-old man who was suffering further health complications such as diabetes and hypertension.

Meanwhile, Yehia Seddiq, head of the Red Sea Drinking Water and Sanitation Company, pointed out that the company took samples from the water for analysis and validation as rumors surged that the disease rose from unclean and invalid potable water. “Sample results revealed that the water was clear from any infections,” said Seddiq.

Megahed pointed out that the fever’s first emergence was in Al-Awaina and Al-Anbaji areas. The heavy spread, according to Megahed, is due to the spread of ponds and sewage swamps, as well as the accumulation of large amounts of garbage.

“All these wastes lead to the spread of mosquitoes,” said Megahed; also pointing out that water maintenance, in addition to the installation and renovation of water tanks, is taking place to eradicate the infection.

Further measures taken also include the withdrawal of water samples for analysis and quality assurance, in addition to the disinfection and sterilization of reservoirs.

According to health sources in the governorate, about 10 cases of dengue fever were found in a fishing area in Hurghada.

In Qena, Governor Abdel-Hamid Al-Hagan announced that the Directorate of Health has taken all preventative measures to safeguard the governorate against the arrival of dengue fever. These measures include sampling insects scattered over the area.