Latest news with #HossamHosni
Egypt Independent
15-07-2025
- Health
- Egypt Independent
Coronavirus response chief assures new variant not in Egypt yet
The Head of the Scientific Committee to Combat Coronavirus at Egypt's Ministry of Health and Population Hossam Hosni said on Monday that the new variant 'NB.1.8.1,' also known as 'Nimbus,' has not yet been detected in Egypt, RT reported. In a phone interview with Al-Nahar TV, Hosni explained that this variant has been classified by the World Health Organization as concerning, due to its rapid spread and ability to overcome resistance acquired through vaccinations or previous infection. Fortunately, it is not particularly fatal, he added. 'All surveillance methods have confirmed that the virus has not entered Egypt,' he said, explaining that the symptoms currently prevalent among some patients in Egypt are the result of other viral infections such as influenza, and not the Coronavirus. Hosni said that conventional medications, not including antibiotics, are capable of dealing with the effects of infection with the new variant. Symptoms in patients may be severe but can be managed medically, he said. He also noted that some patients experience symptoms affecting their voice, a consequence of damage to the vocal cords as part of the respiratory system.
Al-Ahram Weekly
14-07-2025
- Health
- Al-Ahram Weekly
New COVID variant not detected in Egypt: Health official - Health
The new coronavirus variant NB.1.8.1, also known as Nimbus and currently under monitoring by the World Health Organization (WHO), has not been detected in Egypt, according to a senior health official. 'All surveillance methods have confirmed that the virus has not entered Egypt,' said Hossam Hosni, head of the Health Ministry's Scientific Committee to Combat Coronavirus, in a televised interview on Al-Nahar TV Monday evening. Hosni described the variant as highly contagious due to its ability to evade immunity from previous infections or vaccinations. 'This variant has been able to develop itself and challenge the immunity acquired through previous infections or vaccinations,' he said. While the symptoms resemble those of a severe cold—fever, body aches, weakness, sore throat, red eyes, and some gastrointestinal effects—Hosni stressed that cases linked to the variant are generally not fatal. He noted that treatment continues to rely on standard medications. Antibiotics and antivirals are typically reserved for high-risk groups, including the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and patients with chronic illnesses. The variant has been linked to a summer resurgence of COVID-19 cases in several countries, including China and the United States. In May, the WHO designated NB.1.8.1 as a 'variant under monitoring' and assessed its additional public health risk as low. COVID-19 caused significant disruption in Egypt in 2020 and 2021 before subsiding in 2022. The WHO ended its pandemic emergency designation in May 2023, shifting global focus toward managing COVID-19 alongside other respiratory viruses. Egypt has recorded various coronavirus mutations in recent years, though few led to critical illness, according to health officials. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
