Tourists alarmed by news of Egyptian fever

Infectionist Malyshev explained the situation

In the Egyptian province of Qena (600 kilometers south of Cairo), cases of an unknown disease have been recorded. Its symptoms are similar to dengue fever. Rospotrebnadzor promptly issued a warning to Russian citizens who are going on vacation.

In the Egyptian province of Qena (600 kilometers south of Cairo), cases of an unknown disease have been recorded. Its symptoms are similar to dengue fever. Rospotrebnadzor promptly issued a warning to Russian citizens who are going on vacation.

The report says that in connection with the current situation with regard to flights arriving from Egypt, sanitary and quarantine control has been strengthened. “In order to prevent infectious and parasitic diseases carried by insects, it is necessary to take precautionary measures: wear clothes that cover the skin as much as possible, use insect repellents and insecticides, indoors — check windows and doors,” the department’s experts recommend. .

Dengue fever is widespread in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Japan, Vietnam, Myanmar, Singapore, Philippines), India, Africa (Mozambique, Sudan, Egypt), in the tropical and subtropical zones of North, Central and South America (Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Panama, Brazil). Its main vectors are Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Symptoms of the disease are high fever (up to 40 degrees), aches, headache, nausea and vomiting. Tourists are reminded: if after returning from Egypt the state of health has worsened, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Infectionist Nikolai Malyshev, in an interview with an MK correspondent, said that the current situation needs to be monitored, but it is too early to draw conclusions. “There are a lot of these fevers in Africa, every day they discover something: either new, or well-forgotten. Therefore, you need to wait a bit before drawing conclusions, ”explains the expert.

“There is no unknown Egyptian disease in Russia, but dengue fever, the symptoms of which are noted in patients in Egypt, occurs periodically,” Rospotrebnadzor added on the evening of July 17. According to the department, 29 cases were detected in our country last year. All among the tourists who arrived from the southern countries. Most often, dengue is brought from Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. From Egypt somewhat less often.

Published in the newspaper “Moskovsky Komsomolets” No. 29072 dated July 18, 2023

Newspaper headline:
Egypt is in a fever again