The Ministry of Health has announced that the total number of infections of viral conjunctivitis has reached 2206, most of which were found in Daqahliya, Port Said and Damietta. With a total of 1968 infections, Daqahliya has the most cases, followed by Port Said with 182, and Damietta with 56. Absenteeism among primary school students increased in Daqahliya after fears prompted parents to keep their children out of school. Two cases--a child in kindergarten and a factory worker--were also reported in Fayoum. In a statement yesterday, the ministry said infections in Daqahliya have dropped by 20 percent over the past 24 hours, and the rate of spread of the disease is declining there. Infections in Damietta also declined by 40 percent, while the rate of spread remained at the same level in Port Said. The ministry said it will continue to follow up on the situation to ensure the number of new cases decreases. The Sons of the Earth Center for Human Rights have filed a complaint with the attorney general calling for officials at the Health Ministry and Daqahliya governorate to be questioned over the rapid spread of the disease. Meanwhile, Samir Sallam, governor of Daqahliya, has toured schools in Matareyya to examine their water reservoirs after parents complained that the water at the schools was not clean. Sallam called for sanitizing the reservoirs under the supervision of the health department and the drinking water company. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
