Theresa42
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Lax Health Border Controls Could Lead to Malaria Outbreak
By Mohamed Farghali and Ahmed Fouad 29/12/2007
Fayoum: Malaria cases recently detected in Fayoum pointed to negligence on behalf of officials with the Public Directorate for Border Quarantines who were accused of failing to supply travelers with anti-malaria drugs and screen those returning from Sudan for the disease.
Four cases of malaria were detected among travelers who arrived from Sudan, raising the specter for a possible malaria outbreak in Fayoum and particularly in the village of Abou Shanab in the Ibshwai locality, where more than 500 young men trade goods between Egypt and its southern neighbor.
Victims told al-Masry al-Youm they saw no role being played by officials from the health quarantine department at the border with Sudan, adding that none of them were given anti-malaria drugs before traveling or screened for the disease or treated upon their return.
Ramadan Fathi Mahmoud, 32, showed al-Masry al-Youm his passport (number [*snip*]) to prove he was in Sudan and said he traveled there twice on 13 May 2007 and 24 July 2007, where he contracted malignant malaria.
He said doctors failed to diagnose his condition until 2 October 2007, or 11 days after his arrival from his last trip on 19 September 2007, when he was quarantined and given anti-malaria drugs.
He pointed out that he was never examined by the health quarantine department at any stage of his two trips to Sudan.
"I took anti-malaria drugs in Sudan, but felt extremely sick and suffered from high fever and periodic shivering that made me unable to stand on my feet upon my return," he said.
"When I sought help at one of the private clinics in my village, the doctor there referred me to the Fayoum Hospital for Contagious Diseases, where a blood test confirmed I had malaria. I was quarantined on 2 October 2007 and given anti-malaria drugs," he added.
Ramadan said the disease hits a majority of those traveling to Sudan, where the disease is taken as lightly as common influenza in Egypt.
Ramadan Abdel Hamid, another merchant, said the health quarantine department at the borders with Sudan does not screen those crossing the borders, adding that health officials downplay the threat of malaria and treat it as a minor disease.
Eid Ali Kamel, another victim diagnosed with malignant malaria, said he had to travel to Sudan again following his hospitalization to be able to meet financial commitments and despite having not fully recovered.
http://www.almasry-alyoum.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=88176
By Mohamed Farghali and Ahmed Fouad 29/12/2007
Fayoum: Malaria cases recently detected in Fayoum pointed to negligence on behalf of officials with the Public Directorate for Border Quarantines who were accused of failing to supply travelers with anti-malaria drugs and screen those returning from Sudan for the disease.
Four cases of malaria were detected among travelers who arrived from Sudan, raising the specter for a possible malaria outbreak in Fayoum and particularly in the village of Abou Shanab in the Ibshwai locality, where more than 500 young men trade goods between Egypt and its southern neighbor.
Victims told al-Masry al-Youm they saw no role being played by officials from the health quarantine department at the border with Sudan, adding that none of them were given anti-malaria drugs before traveling or screened for the disease or treated upon their return.
Ramadan Fathi Mahmoud, 32, showed al-Masry al-Youm his passport (number [*snip*]) to prove he was in Sudan and said he traveled there twice on 13 May 2007 and 24 July 2007, where he contracted malignant malaria.
He said doctors failed to diagnose his condition until 2 October 2007, or 11 days after his arrival from his last trip on 19 September 2007, when he was quarantined and given anti-malaria drugs.
He pointed out that he was never examined by the health quarantine department at any stage of his two trips to Sudan.
"I took anti-malaria drugs in Sudan, but felt extremely sick and suffered from high fever and periodic shivering that made me unable to stand on my feet upon my return," he said.
"When I sought help at one of the private clinics in my village, the doctor there referred me to the Fayoum Hospital for Contagious Diseases, where a blood test confirmed I had malaria. I was quarantined on 2 October 2007 and given anti-malaria drugs," he added.
Ramadan said the disease hits a majority of those traveling to Sudan, where the disease is taken as lightly as common influenza in Egypt.
Ramadan Abdel Hamid, another merchant, said the health quarantine department at the borders with Sudan does not screen those crossing the borders, adding that health officials downplay the threat of malaria and treat it as a minor disease.
Eid Ali Kamel, another victim diagnosed with malignant malaria, said he had to travel to Sudan again following his hospitalization to be able to meet financial commitments and despite having not fully recovered.
http://www.almasry-alyoum.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=88176