CAIRO: Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif and Minister of Health Hatem El-Gabaly said that Egypt is plague-free despite its appearance in the Libyan city of Tabarak, 50 km west of the Egyptian border.
Twelve cases of the plague, including one death, were reported in Libya. Seven recovered and four are currently receiving treatment.
El-Gabaly said the government remains cautious. He said he has contacted the Armed Forces at the border and requested they start spraying antiseptics to immunize the area.
A committee from the preventive medicine department at the ministry arrived at the border to work alongside the committee monitoring swine flu.
The press office at the Egyptian Ministry of Health did not release an official statement on the issue as it “concerns another country, a ministry official told Daily News Egypt.
On the other hand, the source said that all necessary safety measures have been made on the Egyptian-Libyan borders.
Cabinet spokesperson Magdy Rady told the press that Nazif is following the issue and coordinating with related ministries and authorities.
