H1N1'S IMPACT ON EGYPT'S SCHOOL SYSTEM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 001802

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AIAG (DAVID WINN),NEA/ELA
DEPT PASS TO AID (DENNIS CARROLL)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU KSTH PGOV EAGR CASC PREL EAID EG
SUBJECT: H1N1'S IMPACT ON EGYPT'S SCHOOL SYSTEM

Sensitive but Unclassified. Please handle accordingly.

1.(SBU) Key Points:

--Egypt's Ministries of Health and Education are spearheading the
GoE's H1N1 education planning and have outlined how the virus will
impact the country's school system.

--The GoE is prepared to close all of the country's schools and
universities in the event of a H1N1 epidemic and have devised
specific criteria in how they will make this decision.

-- At this time, the GoE plans to allow the hajj to proceed although
it will continue to maintain previously announced restrictions for
potential pilgrims.


2. (U) Emboff met with Dr. Nasr El-Sayed, first undersecretary for
preventive and endemic affairs at the Ministry of Health (MoH),to
discuss GoE H1N1 planning and its impact on the country's education
system. El-Sayed oversees the MoH's influenza program and is a key
advisor to Minister of Health Hatem El-Gabali.

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Why is Egypt Delaying the School Year?
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3. (SBU) Egypt's public schools and universities will begin classes
on October 3. El-Sayed explained that the GoE pushed back the
original September 26 start date because of significant H1N1
concerns. More than 150,000 Egyptians are scheduled to return in
the next week from Umra (a minor religious pilgrimage) in Saudi
Arabia. El-Sayed noted that "some of these people could be
teachers, students, and schools employees" and could transmit the
virus to other individuals in the schools. He stated that waiting
an additional seven to eight days would minimize the potential for
infection in schools and universities.

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Dedicated H1N1 Employees
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4. (SBU) As schools began preparing for the start of the year, the
Ministry of Education (MoE) sent guidelines to all principals to
select one employee to serve as each schools' H1N1 representative.
This individual's responsibility is to determine if anyone in the
school exhibits H1N1 symptoms - such as a high fever, sore throat,
or persistent cough. The representative has the authority to send
home any individual with these symptoms and a medical doctor will
then visit to monitor the situation. If H1N1-like symptoms continue
for more than 24-48 hours, the individual will be admitted to a
local hospital with a dedicated H1N1 ward. If this individual is a
student or teacher, the principal will then shutter that particular
class for two weeks and students will be placed under surveillance
for seven days at their homes.

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School Closures
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5. (SBU) Despite recent media speculation that governors can close
schools in the event of H1N1 outbreaks, El-Sayed emphasized several
times that only the MoH and MoE possess this authority. This is a
"national decision," to be undertaken jointly by the MoH and MoE,
and "no one else." The ministries have the support of the Prime
Minister in this decision-making process. El-Sayed explained the
criteria in how the ministries will approach any school closure. If
more than three H1N1 cases are confirmed at any school, the
ministries will close that particular school for 2-4 weeks - the
timeframe depends upon the severity of the infected individuals.


6. (SBU) El-Sayed also noted that the ministries have devised H1N1
criteria that would warrant closing the entire school system - from
nursery schools to universities. For this to occur, the country
would have to meet at least two of following three situations:

-a tenfold increase in any given week of confirmed hospitalized H1N1
cases
-the mortality rate of hospitalized H1N1 cases rises above 2%
-a 10% increase in the number of hospitalized H1N1 cases with
respiratory problems


7. (SBU) According to El-Sayed, schools and universities would be
closed "indefinitely." In addition, the GoE would shut down what the
MoH labels "social gathering places and events" - specifically
mentioning movie theaters and sporting matches. Government
ministries would not be affected and employees would continue to
report to their jobs.

CAIRO 00001802 002 OF 002



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Al-Azhar Backs GoE Plans
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8. (SBU) Egypt's religious leaders have agreed to support the MoH
and MoE in their H1N1 preventive planning. In a September 14
meeting at Al Azhar mosque - the most important religious
institution in the country - senior religious leaders and Al Azhar
school directors agreed to support the MoH in all of their
preventive planning regarding the country's school system. These
instructions were provided directly from Grand Imam Muhammad Sayyid
Tantawi, the leader of Al Azhar's mosque and university. He stated
it was vital to follow MoH guidance concerning H1N1.

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What of the Hajj?
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9. (SBU) Despite rising H1N1 concerns, the GoE does not plan to stop
Egyptians from undertaking hajj - which is likely to begin in late
November. El-Sayed stressed that the MoH might revisit this decision
later in the fall. However, previously announced restrictions for
hajj will remain in place. According to the MoH, only adults
between the ages of 25-65 years old will be allowed to travel for
the hajj. Other high-risk traveler categories barred from hajj
include pregnant women, obese individuals, and those with chronic
ailments (such as diabetes, hypertension, and kidney problems).

Scobey