The Egyptian Ministry of Health, represented by the Preventive Medicine Sector, issued instructions to the various quarantine ports to impose quarantine measures on those coming from Lebanon as part of the fight against cholera, specifically after the Lebanese Ministry of Health reported a case of acute diarrhea.
Concerns in Lebanon have been raised about a cholera outbreak after more than 200 cases were detected, mostly in Syrian refugee camps, which are already suffering from the consequences of economic collapse and the resulting lack of access to clean water.
The Ministry of Health directed the quarantine departments to raise the degree of readiness at air, sea and land ports of entry by activating and tightening health control measures on passengers, means of transportation and goods coming from Lebanon.
The circular issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Health explained that suspected cases are any person suffering from acute diarrhea that is watery, painless, recurrent and may be accompanied by vomiting.
The preventive measures imposed on those arriving from Lebanon include health surveillance of passengers and transportation crews arriving on basic, special or cargo flights, directly or indirectly.
The Egyptian Ministry of Health directed that the suspected case should be referred to the designated hospital to assess the case, and the preventive room, the General Directorate of Quarantine and the Directorate of Health Affairs affiliated with it should be notified.
The Ministry of Health urged the medical team to take the maximum infection control precautions when dealing with suspected cases and throw out food and drinks that are not preserved in sealed containers.
It also called to disinfect any means of transportation if there is a suspected case, while disposing of any residues from the means of transportation safely under quarantine supervision.
