This has been and ongoing issue over the last three weeks,that i know of its also in other governorates not mentioned and has in some cases exhibited in people that have other normal flu symptoms also.
we visited one of the very large hospitals in the Helwan governorate and was told directly by the hospital it is a virus and they know what is causing it but again it sounded like they were not allowed to openly discuss what the virus was.
I asked a direct question at this point about the "virus" being another virus or related to the flu and only received a confirming silent nod of the head from the doctor indicating its flu related.
I asked about the use of anti virals and was told not without a prescription which requires testing first,I then asked for the test and it was refused by the hospital.
one of the areas hit hardest thus far is the biggest poultry production centers within Egypt.
CONJUNCTIVITIS - EGYPT NORTH
*****************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>
Date: Mon 25 Oct 2010
Source: Manila Bulletin, Xinhua report [edited]
<http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/284048/outbreak-pinkeye-cases-hits-north-egypt>
Some areas of northern Egypt reported an outbreak of pinkeye
[conjunctival] infections with the number of cases close to 2000, the
official MENA news agency reported on Sun 24 Oct 2010. The number of
people infected with this viral conjunctivitis, known as pinkeye, has
risen to 1831, Egyptian Health Ministry spokesman Abdel-Rahman Shahin
said, according to the report.
As many as 1703 cases are found in Daqahliya, 92 in Port Said and 36
in Damietta, the report said, adding most of the cases are students,
with 1042 in Daqahliya, 40 in Port Said and 12 in Damietta.
Pinkeye, an inflammation of the conjunctiva, may make the eyes
extremely red and can spread quickly, which usually causes no
long-term eye or vision damage.
--
Communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via
ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
[Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the thin layer (conjunctiva)
that lines the inside of the eyelid and covers the white part of the
eye. Inflammation can cause blood vessels in the eye to become
larger, and that can make the white of the eye look pink or red.
Conjunctivitis is a common health condition worldwide. The 3 most
common types of conjunctivitis are viral, bacterial, and allergic.
Currently, outbreaks are occurring throughout the world (see
ProMED-mail references below).
ProMED-mail does not routinely report outbreaks of conjunctivitis
where there has been no identification of the etiologic agent. This
particular outbreak is reported because it embraces 3 contiguous
coastal governorates in the Nile Delta region of Egypt and is being
attributed to virus infection, although the species of virus is not
stated. Precise information would be appreciated, if available.
Daqahliya, Port Said and Damietta can be located at 7, 19 and 8
respectively in the map of the governorates of Egypt at:
<http://wapedia.mobi/en/Governorates_of_Egypt#1>. The
HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Egypt can be accessed at
<http://healthmap.org/r/03Jb>. - Mod.CP]
[see also:
Conjunctivitis, IDPs - Pakistan (SH) 20100923.3439
Conjunctivitis - Mexico (03): (TS) 20100922.3427
Conjunctivitis, viral - China: (FN) 20100921.3406
Conjunctivitis - Mexico (02): (GO) 20100919.3387
Conjunctivitis - Mexico: (CA) 20100903.3155
Conjunctivitis - Uganda & Southern Sudan, Turkey 20100819.2890
Conjunctivitis - Bhutan 20100723.2471
Viral conjunctivitis - Uganda: (Kampala) RFI 20100514.1574]
............................................sb/cp/msp/dk
we visited one of the very large hospitals in the Helwan governorate and was told directly by the hospital it is a virus and they know what is causing it but again it sounded like they were not allowed to openly discuss what the virus was.
I asked a direct question at this point about the "virus" being another virus or related to the flu and only received a confirming silent nod of the head from the doctor indicating its flu related.
I asked about the use of anti virals and was told not without a prescription which requires testing first,I then asked for the test and it was refused by the hospital.
one of the areas hit hardest thus far is the biggest poultry production centers within Egypt.
CONJUNCTIVITIS - EGYPT NORTH
*****************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>
Date: Mon 25 Oct 2010
Source: Manila Bulletin, Xinhua report [edited]
<http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/284048/outbreak-pinkeye-cases-hits-north-egypt>
Some areas of northern Egypt reported an outbreak of pinkeye
[conjunctival] infections with the number of cases close to 2000, the
official MENA news agency reported on Sun 24 Oct 2010. The number of
people infected with this viral conjunctivitis, known as pinkeye, has
risen to 1831, Egyptian Health Ministry spokesman Abdel-Rahman Shahin
said, according to the report.
As many as 1703 cases are found in Daqahliya, 92 in Port Said and 36
in Damietta, the report said, adding most of the cases are students,
with 1042 in Daqahliya, 40 in Port Said and 12 in Damietta.
Pinkeye, an inflammation of the conjunctiva, may make the eyes
extremely red and can spread quickly, which usually causes no
long-term eye or vision damage.
--
Communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via
ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
[Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the thin layer (conjunctiva)
that lines the inside of the eyelid and covers the white part of the
eye. Inflammation can cause blood vessels in the eye to become
larger, and that can make the white of the eye look pink or red.
Conjunctivitis is a common health condition worldwide. The 3 most
common types of conjunctivitis are viral, bacterial, and allergic.
Currently, outbreaks are occurring throughout the world (see
ProMED-mail references below).
ProMED-mail does not routinely report outbreaks of conjunctivitis
where there has been no identification of the etiologic agent. This
particular outbreak is reported because it embraces 3 contiguous
coastal governorates in the Nile Delta region of Egypt and is being
attributed to virus infection, although the species of virus is not
stated. Precise information would be appreciated, if available.
Daqahliya, Port Said and Damietta can be located at 7, 19 and 8
respectively in the map of the governorates of Egypt at:
<http://wapedia.mobi/en/Governorates_of_Egypt#1>. The
HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Egypt can be accessed at
<http://healthmap.org/r/03Jb>. - Mod.CP]
[see also:
Conjunctivitis, IDPs - Pakistan (SH) 20100923.3439
Conjunctivitis - Mexico (03): (TS) 20100922.3427
Conjunctivitis, viral - China: (FN) 20100921.3406
Conjunctivitis - Mexico (02): (GO) 20100919.3387
Conjunctivitis - Mexico: (CA) 20100903.3155
Conjunctivitis - Uganda & Southern Sudan, Turkey 20100819.2890
Conjunctivitis - Bhutan 20100723.2471
Viral conjunctivitis - Uganda: (Kampala) RFI 20100514.1574]
............................................sb/cp/msp/dk