Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the spokesperson for the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population, has commented on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of monkeypox as a public health emergency. He has confirmed that there are no reported cases of monkeypox in Egypt.
In a televised statement, Abdel Ghaffar reiterated that no cases have been detected in Egypt since the last announcement in 2023.
Abdel Ghaffar explained that declaring monkeypox a public health emergency signifies that the disease is spreading in several countries and there is a possibility of its transmission to other countries. This necessitates coordination between all nations to address this disease, as it is no longer a concern for a single country.
Abdel Ghaffar added that the WHO has announced that there are more than seven types of diseases that are of concern, two of which are considered pandemics: COVID-19 and avian influenza. This is because pandemics are transmitted through the air.
He clarified that monkeypox is not of the type that can develop into a global pandemic.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population pointed out that monkeypox is prevalent in four African countries, as well as the United States and European Union countries.
