Spokesman for the Health Ministry Hossam Abdel Ghaffar stressed on Sunday 22-09-2024 that samples taken from drinking water stations in the Upper Egyptian governorate of Aswan confirmed the safety of water and that it is free of any microbiological changes.

He dismissed as groundless media reports that hospitals in Aswan are flooded with citizens suffering from intestinal catarrh.

Speaking to the Egyptian Television, Abdel Ghaffar said high rates of intestinal catarrh were reported in some of the governorate's villages, especially Abu Reesh.

At once, Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar delegated his deputy and a team of the Preventive Medicine Sector to rush to the governorate to follow up the situation on the ground.

Water samples were also taken from houses of infected citizens who suffered from intestinal catarrh, he said, adding that results will be announced within 48 hours.

He said that admission into hospital increased by 10 to 15 percent after the appearance of intestinal catarrh cases.

As confirmed by WHO, 80 percent of intestinal catarrh cases does not require hospital admission and can be treated at home, he said, adding that most of the cases that checked into hospital were either suffering from chronic diseases or were late in getting necessary treatment of intestinal catarrh.

The situation in Aswan is getting better and reports on intestinal catarrh cases are declining, the spokesman said.

MENA