AU intensifies infection prevention in Egypt after confirmed coronavirus spread
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - The African Union will intensify the training of healthcare workers and the availability of testing kits for the effective handling of the coronavirus (COVID-19) following the confirmation of the first case of the virus in Egypt, a senior health official said on Saturday.
Dr John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said training of the health workers would intensify following the first confirmed case of the coronavirus spread to Egypt.
In the next two weeks, the AU plans to rollout a comprehensive disease prevention and control strategy for Egypt.
It said further training and resources will be provided to Egypt and other at-risk countries to enable the north African nation to implement an infection prevention strategy.
The AU will also help Egypt implement the disease control plans within healthcare facilities and in the medical management of COVID-19, the Africa CDC chief said. There would be further training on risk communication and community engagement.
On 14 Feb. 2020, the Egyptian Minister of Health and Population, Dr Hala Zayed, confirmed the first case of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Egypt.
The minister confirmed the patient, a 33-year old male foreigner was currently receiving treatment at an isolation centre in Egypt. The 17 contacts of the patient have tested negative, and all of them are under home isolation for 14 days. They are being followed up by the Ministry of Health and Population.
"We are confident that Egypt has the expertise to manage the situation," Nkengasong said.
The Africa CDC experts are in talks with Egyptian officials and the WHO Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Region to coordinate support for Egypt in responding to this outbreak, AU officials said.
Africa CDC is working closely with the WHO and other partners to ensure the diagnostic tools needed by Egypt are available. Steps are being taken to ensure Egypt also takes the right actions to contain the outbreak as quickly as possible.
"We anticipated the COVID-19 outbreak would inevitably impact Africa. That is why Africa CDC has been working actively with AU Member States and partners in the past four weeks and investing in preparedness and response to the disease," Nkengasong said.
The AU official said the detection by Egyptian authorities is evidence of the strategy that Africa CDC and Member States have adopted in combating the disease.
Last week, in Dakar, Senegal, the AU conducted training and supplied test kits to 16 African laboratories, including from Egypt. Egypt also received additional test kits from the WHO.
The AU plans to hold training sessions in Nairobi, Kenya, for 40 participants from nine countries, including Egypt, on enhancing detection and investigation of COVID-19 at points-of-entry. The training is co-facilitated by Africa CDC, WHO, and the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO).
Two airlines, Kenya Airways and South African Airlines, are also represented in the training.
-0- PANA AO/AR 15Feb2020
