The AH1N1 virus is here in Egypt. Until last May Egypt seemed to have escaped its scourge, but the first days of June saw the first case of the virus detected, following which the numbers of infections announced have risen steadily by the day.
The media campaign which had been raging through Egypt since the virus was first detected in Mexico, and which had warned of a swine flu pandemic, had many Egyptians expecting, and some outright panicky about, the flu reaching Egypt. Until last week, the government-assigned hotline—105—received some 95,000 calls asking for information about methods of protection and reporting suspected cases.
Swine innocent
It was impossible to escape a political statement made by many Egyptians, a large portion of whom were Copts. In an attempt to save the country from swine flu, the government had insisted on culling the entire pig population of Egypt on the pretext that they fed upon organic waste and were thus unhealthy, filthy, and liable to spread the disease. “Now,” said Ghada Tantawi, a translator in her thirties, “The flu has come to Egypt form the ‘cleanest, healthiest’ parts of the world.” Even though the World Health Organisation criticised the pig cull as absolutely unnecessary, the move was executed, leaving the thousands of people who had depended on pig rearing and pork industry as a livelihood destitute. The majority of them were Copts since Islam considers pigs ‘unclean animals’. The pigs were culled with brutal savagery, frequently doused with caustic material and buried alive.
Amany Attiya, a 29-year old sociologist, mockingly said that Egypt’s ‘filthy’ swine and its breeders never carried nor spread the flu, yet the pigs were killed. Other places in the world where the virus spread never killed their pigs.
Tissue and disinfectant
Although the government assured people it was not necessary to use masks, many people felt safer using them especially in places with crowds and poor aeration such as the underground metro. Those who had no masks used tissue paper to cover their noses and mouths, especially if someone close by happened to cough or sneeze. Kissing, a standard way of greeting among Egyptians, is notably on the decline.
Liver patients especially were particularly anxious since doctors mentioned that people with low immunity are more liable to infection. Students sitting for end-of-year exams wore masks during examinations.
A Cairo pharmacist reported a sharp rise in the sales of disinfectants, masks, tissue paper and disinfectant tissue, as well as immunity stimulating drugs. The rise is typical and has been reported by pharmacists in general in Cairo and Alexandria.
Mother fears
Amal Farouq, an employee in her 30s, appeared panic stricken since her 14-year-old son is himself sleepless with panic. She said she was confused whether or not it was important to wear a mask. “There appears to be a shortage in masks,” she said, “so I make do with tissue paper.”
Farouq expressed her anxiety about what she had seen on satellite TV when a mother went to a public hospital to have her children undergo blood analysis since they were feverish, but the officials refused on the pretext that the children had not come in contact with foreigners.
As for Mona Tawfiq, a mother of two pre-school children, she said she only left home to perform necessary errands, and has stopped sending her children to nursery. “Since transportation means are always crowded,” she said, “I only take out my children when my husband can drive us around. Otherwise, it’s safer at home.”
But another young mother said she was not afraid of the virus. “I follow the instructions recommended by the WHO; washing our hands and using disinfectants,” she said.
On the beach
The appearance of AH1N1 coincided with the summer holiday season. Since Alexandria is one of Egypt’s top summer destinations, Watani checked its beaches and hotels for summer visitors and their fears.
Tareq Hussein, from Cairo, sat with his family on the beach. “Why should I be afraid? The threat comes from overcrowded, stuffy places. What can be more fresh—or pleasurable—than the sea breeze? As to the swine flu, only God can protect us.”
Another visitor, Amr Qandil, stressed the importance of committing to personal and public cleanliness. “We should avoid non-hygienic habits such as hugging and kissing. But, it is impossible to let the summer go by without coming to the beach. I am staying with my family at a hotel, I am keen to clean everything we touch with disinfectant.”
Alexandria hotels appear to be fully aware of the need to assure their guests that there can be no risk of infection at their hotels. Sarah Nabil, public relations manager at a five-star hotel in Alexandria, told Watani that the hotel got no cancellations; rather, she said, bookings form all over the world have been steadily coming in. “We have more bookings than the same period last year,” she said. “The hotel management is keen to take all required precautions to against infection.”