Health Ministry Undersecretary Amr Qandil on Tuesday projected rising numbers of mumps cases from December to the coming February, but assured it would not be a public health emergency.
“It is a winter disease,” Qandil said in a press conference. “Yet once infected, you are immunized for life.” He also said that 157 cases in eight governorates have been reported so far, with no deaths.
He explained that the infection usually spreads from the mouth, the nose or the throat through coughing. “You should stay away from an infected person and keep your homes well ventilated,” he said.
News outlets had reported during the last week that dozens of school students were diagnosed with the virus in Minya and Qena in Upper Egypt.
The human rights-focused Justice and Development Organization in Qena released a statement claiming that the mumps could spread in the area due to the absence of preventative vaccines for the disease and general neglect from the Health Ministry.
Edited translation from MENA
