CAIRO: Officials ordered the quarantine of the American University in Cairo’s Zamalek dormitory after two students were diagnosed with the H1N1 virus, health officials said Monday.
At a press conference, Egypt’s Minister of Health Hatem El-Gabaly said the first case of the feared swine flu was detected in a 23-year-old male American student who just came back from New Jersey on BMI flight 77.
The second student is a 23-year-old female who flew over from Florida on Delta Airlines flight 85.
The two students arrived in Cairo on May 28 and were back in the Zamalek dorms by June 4. A day later, both experienced flu-like symptoms.
They are both law students enrolled at Seton Hall University’s Cairo summer study abroad program.
“On June 6, both patients underwent a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab test and the results came back positive, El-Gabaly said.
Speaking to Daily News Egypt after the conference, El-Gabaly said that the throat swab is the only medical examination needed for swine flu cases, adding that no further tests are required, including blood tests.
At press time, both patients were in stable condition and are expected to be released from the hospital soon, El-Gabaly said.
“There are 234 people in the dorm, 110 students and 124 professors, who were all examined and the test results will come out Monday evening, El-Gabaly said.
El-Gabaly said that the Zamalek dormitory would be under quarantine, and students would be under “strict observation for seven days.
The duration of the quarantine, however, is yet to be determined.
“We met with the minister and he said that [the length of the quarantine] would depend on what the test results show. From the meeting earlier today it was not all decided and remains the question of getting the test results back, David Arnold, AUC president, told Daily News Egypt.
Classes and activities at AUC are suspended until next Sunday, said the minister, who was met with Arnold after the morning press conference to assess the situation.
AUC confirmed the suspension decision and said it will last until June 16, according to Rehab Saad, associate director of AUC’s media relations department.
Group photos for the spring graduating class, scheduled for June 12, were cancelled but the graduate and undergraduate ceremonies are expected to be held as planned on June 16 and 18, respectively.
Brian MacDougall, the university’s vice president for planning and administration, said that AUC is in direct contact with Healthy Ministry officials “and is prepared to take any additional precautions necessary.
Back at the dorm, concern for the hospitalized students coincided with a sense of uncertainty.
“There’s some nervous energy, said Phil Ryan, a student in the same program, citing the close living spaces and shared shishas that are feeding fears of more positive test results.
The cafeteria inside the dorm is closed, though students are able to order-in food.
“Everyone is waiting for the results of the test, said Mohamed Ali, president of the university’s Student Union.
Flyers posted around the dorm informed students that the building was under quarantine and Egyptian police officers are stationed outside the entrance of the dorm.
Youssra Elwi, who spoke to Daily News Egypt from inside the dormitory, said that students were not allowed to leave for the coming 24 hours.
Robert Greenan, acting spokesman for the US Embassy in Cairo, told Daily News Egypt that “the embassy is in close contact with the students and we are receiving regular updates on their situation from Egyptian health officials.
Students in the dorms confirmed the embassy’s statement.
There was also a US Navy doctor in the building early Monday, but the embassy is leaving medical decisions up to the Egyptian authorities.
El-Gabaly asserted that the two cases are unrelated to each other and are not linked to the first case of swine flu in Egypt that appeared in an Egyptian-American girl at the Cairo airport on June 2.
“The three cases came from different states and on different flights, El-Gabaly said. -Additional reporting by Noah Raymon and Tyler Waywell.
For telephone interviews with quarantined students at AUC s Zamalek dorm, go to Daily News Egypt s YouTube channel.
Click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXf9j6ESZI0
