The Ministry of Health and Population said it had raised preparedness levels and activated preventive measures at all air, sea, and land entry points in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO) and international health authorities as part of Egypt’s epidemiological surveillance and early warning system.

“The current risk assessments indicate that the likelihood of the disease reaching Egypt remains low,” Health Ministry Spokesman Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar said in a statement.

He said Ebola does not spread as easily as respiratory diseases, explaining that transmission requires direct and close contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person after symptoms appear.

“This significantly limits the possibility of international spread when surveillance and infection-control measures are implemented in accordance with international standards,” Abdel-Ghaffar added.

The ministry said Ebola is not transmissible during its incubation period and that the chances of transmission through travel remain limited under the health and monitoring procedures applied at international ports of entry.

Egypt has activated several precautionary measures, including health screening procedures for travellers arriving from affected areas, monitoring arrivals for up to 21 days when necessary, and strengthening the readiness of epidemiological surveillance and rapid response teams, the ministry said.

Authorities are also continuing coordination with relevant national and international bodies to ensure the effective implementation of preventive measures.

The ministry said the WHO currently classifies the global risk level associated with the outbreak as low, adding that elevated risk assessments in parts of Africa are linked to local outbreak conditions and neighbouring countries rather than widespread international transmission.

Abdel-Ghaffar said the declaration of a “global health emergency” during some outbreaks is an international mechanism aimed at strengthening coordination and preparedness among countries and does not necessarily indicate an immediate threat to all states or that the outbreak is out of control.

The ministry urged citizens to rely on official sources for information and avoid rumours or unverified reports, stressing that the health situation inside Egypt remains stable and that the country’s disease surveillance and response systems are operating efficiently.

It also advised citizens travelling to affected areas to avoid non-essential travel, comply with health guidelines, and contact health authorities if any symptoms appear after returning.

Egypt said it would continue to closely monitor global health developments and would announce any updates transparently, in line with international health standards.

Ebola virus disease is a severe and often fatal illness that spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people or contaminated materials.

Unlike airborne respiratory viruses, Ebola transmission typically requires close physical contact after symptoms appear, which health authorities say makes widespread international transmission less likely when surveillance and infection control measures are in place.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has experienced multiple Ebola outbreaks over the past decade, particularly in its eastern provinces, where weak healthcare infrastructure, population displacement, and armed conflict have complicated containment efforts.

The country has previously worked with the WHO, African health agencies, and international partners to deploy vaccination campaigns, contact tracing systems, and emergency treatment centres during outbreaks.

WHO generally classifies Ebola outbreaks according to local, regional, and global risk levels. While outbreaks in affected African regions can be considered high risk because of local transmission dynamics and cross-border movement, the global risk level often remains lower when no sustained international spread is detected.

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