11 April 2016, Cairo – The WHO country office, Egypt and Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, conducted a symposium on enhancing preparedness and response capacities to Zika virus infection from 30 to 31 March 2016.
Zika virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito from the Aedes genus, mainly Aedes aegypti in tropical regions. Aedes mosquitoes can be found in 8 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Djibouti, Egypt, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. However, to date (7 February 2016), no countries of the Region have reported either local transmission or importation of the Zika virus but countries need to be vigilant in order to prevent its spread if it were to reach the Region.
The symposium assessed the present situation and threats to the Egyptian population and discussed effective ways to enhance preparedness and response capacities. It also shared information on research and raised questions on the implementation of proactive measures prior to any possible outbreak.
The Preventive Sector of the Ministry of Health and Population provided technical collaboration as the main stakeholder of disease control in Egypt. Department members of public health, entomology, endemic diseases, and other research institutes also attended.
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