Physician and Major-General Ibrahim Abdel-Atti, the man behind the reported scientific breakthroughs, (left) stands next to members of research team working on the detecting devices (Photo: Official Facebook page of the Armed Forces research team)
Egypt military was going to convene an international press conference Saturday morning to unveil details of a set of devices said to detect and cure AIDS, Hepatitis and other viruses, state news agency MENA reported.
The conference, at the Hadaek Al-Quba Hospital complex in central Cairo, will announce the new treatments and their cost as well as review a number of cases cured by the discoveries, said General Gamal El-Serafy, head of the military medical services in comments carried by Al-Ahram daily Saturday.
The controversial devices earlier drew scepticism from experts and the general public over their efficacy when first unveiled by the military in February.
The scientific advisor to Egypt's then Interim President Adly Mansour denounced the claims made at the time as "shocking to scientists," saying the devices had no scientific basis.
Military leaders said the devices would come into service 30 June to treat patients in army hospitals.
Egypt has one of the highest rates of Hepatitis C infection in the world, reaching eight million in 2008, according to health ministry figures, or nearly 10 percent of the population. In some parts of Upper Egypt and the Nile Delta infection rates reach 20 percent.
An Ahram Online reporter tried to attend the press conference but was denied entry, being told it was by invitation only.
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