File Photo: Egyptian Quarantine Authority employees prepare to scan body temperatures of incoming travellers at Cairo International Airport. AFP
The health ministry said meningitis cases recorded in Egypt fall within normal levels and do not indicate any epidemic spread.
The statement came after the Doctors’ Syndicate said in a Facebook post on Sunday that a trainee doctor had died after contracting meningitis from a patient, prompting concern about a possible outbreak.
The ministry said meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord and can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, or non-infectious factors such as tumours or injuries.
It added that bacterial meningitis, particularly cases caused by Neisseria meningitidis, is the most dangerous form due to its potential for rapid spread.
Health authorities said Egypt has not recorded any bacterial meningitis outbreaks since 1989, with the incidence rate falling to 0.03 cases per 100,000 people in 2025. No epidemic strains (A, C, Y, W, X) have been detected since 2016.
The ministry said it continues to monitor the global situation, noting limited outbreaks reported in 2026, including cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and England, according to local health authorities.
It said Egypt maintains a nationwide surveillance system that includes laboratory testing, case tracking, and rapid response measures. Health teams monitor close contacts for 10 days and provide preventive treatment, including rifampicin.
The ministry also pointed to vaccination programmes as a key factor in controlling the disease. More than 5.5 million doses of the bivalent meningococcal vaccine (A and C) are administered annually to students, while over 200,000 doses of the quadrivalent vaccine (ACWY) are given to travellers and Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.
The Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine has been part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule since 2014, alongside the BCG vaccine.
According to the ministry, vaccination coverage among school students exceeds 95 percent nationwide.
The ministry said Egypt is preparing to seek certification from the World Health Organization (WHO), recognizing its progress in controlling meningitis, in line with global efforts to eliminate the disease by 2030.
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