CAIRO, EGYPT, Wednesday, October 14: Pilgrims due to travel for this year’s Hajj season have priority in the first 80,000 of 5 million H1N1 flu vaccines due to arrive in Egypt from the World Health Organization, says Dr. Abdel Rahman Shahin, first under secretary and official spokesman of Egypt’s Ministry of Health, at a seminar focused on tourism related issues and the virus, hosted by the Egyptian Tourism Federation (ETF) on Tuesday, October 13.
According to Guest spokesman Dr. Shahin, the vaccines will be free, and the first group of 80,000 vaccines will arrive on October 20 and will be given to pilgrims, those working in the Ministry of Health services and civil servants who deal with the public at large. The second group of 1.2 million vaccines is due to arrive in November and the rest of the 5 million later in December. Following vaccinating the before mentioned persons, priority of vaccines will be given in order of those most vulnerable to the virus such as those dealing with the public including hotels and tourism as well as individuals working directly with the public such as those in the water, electricity, gas and transportation areas.
The seminar began with an introduction by ETF Chairman Ahmed El-Nahas, then a briefing by Adel Abdel Razek, ETF board member and chairman of its parliament and government affairs committee. Abdel Razek emphasized the great interest the ETF and the tourism chambers have in the issue because of its grave impact on tourism to Egypt and around the globe, stressing the importance of informing the tourism sector of the current situation concerning the virus and its presence in Egypt.
Dr. Shahin, began by informing of the full cooperation between the Minister of Tourism and the Minister of Health concerning this issue by setting plans. He explained specifications of the virus pertaining to when it appeared; the difference from regular flu and bird flu viruses; and the people who are most vulnerable. He clarified that swine flu virus is weak and protection is solely based on personal hygiene and cleanliness of one’s surrounding environment, and said the number of people who have been infected in Egypt has reached 1,037 and the number of deaths is only 3 which is 0.003% - less than the world death rate of 0.008%. He also pointed out that the H1N1 virus’ danger is in its quick infection rate and that it affects young people.
Hosted at Pyramisa Hotel in Cairo, the seminar came to an end following questions from journalists and prominent attendees including ministry officials, general assembly members and chamber representatives.
