Health Ministry Establishes Center for Swine Flu Crisis Management; El-Gabali: It is "Illogical" to Eradicate the Epidemic

Al-Masry Al-Youm learnt that Hatem el-Gabali, Minister of Health, decided to urgently establish a center for swine flu crisis management. The center will be established in the Health Ministry's building in coordination with the ministries and bodies concerned, including the ministries of interior, transportation, and communications, in addition to the Cabinet's Information and Decision Support Center.

The center will follow the situation of the swine flu at local and global levels. It will also prepare periodic reports and send them directly to the officials, well-informed sources said.

The center will be established and equipped in a few days. Its doors will be equipped with warning devices to only allow those who carry magnetic identity cards to enter the center.

The center will be electronically linked to operation rooms in the 29 governorates, the World Health Organization in Geneva and its regional office in Cairo, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta.

On the other hand, Minister el-Gabali will receive a report from the higher committee he formed to follow the epidemic in Egypt. After that, he will send a scientific report to Ali Gomaa, Egypt's Grand Mufti, to decide whether Hajj and Umrah (minor pilgrimage) will be postponed this year or not.

Minister el-Gabali warned against slackness in facing the disease, ensuring that the situation is not underestimating or overestimating it.

All measures taken by the Health Ministry and other bodies aim to contain the epidemic and not to eliminate it, he said, adding: "It is illogical to eliminate the disease, but the goal of our plan is only to face it."

Two people have tested positive for swine flu, taking the confirmed cases to 50. The new cases are two children, who returned from the United States on June 20, accompanied by their mother who works as assistant professor, health sources at Alexandria said.