Egypt’s Health Minister Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar announced on 23 September that the severe stomach flu outbreak across Aswan is initially linked to E. coli bacteria. The initial findings, revealed through samples from affected patients, come a week after residents voiced concerns over Aswan’s water reservoirs being contaminated — typically how the E. coli is spread. The outbreak has led to a surge in hospital visits across Aswan with about 648 individuals requiring medical treatment, presenting symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. Since 11 September, 480 people have been treated for mild symptoms, with 168 patients still hospitalized, including 36 elderly individuals in intensive care. Abdel-Ghaffar also confirmed that while there were five deaths in Aswan over the past week of the outbreak, it remains unconfirmed if it is linked to the stomach infection. While most E. coli strains result in mild illness, some mutated forms can trigger more dangerous complications, he explained. Despite the surge, Abdel-Ghaffar reassured the public that no new cases had been reported in the past 48 hours, and the situation is expected to stabilize within a week. Hospital occupancy rates in Aswan hover around 37 percent, he…
Stomach Flu Outbreak in Egypt’s Aswan Linked to E. Coli Bacteria: Health Ministry
September 24, 2024
