Health officials have urged families to isolate children with measles as Egypt prepares a free nationwide measles and rubella vaccination campaign targeting 21 million children.
Health officials in Egypt are urging parents to keep children diagnosed with measles at home and out of nurseries and schools, in a bid to limit further spread of the virus among other pupils.
According to Dr Shaimaa Abu Qamar, executive director of the Expanded Vaccination Programme at the Ministry of Health and Population, families should isolate infected children for the full period advised by doctors and avoid sending them to educational settings until they are no longer contagious. She said the same precaution applies to nurseries and schools, where close contact can quickly turn a single case into a wider outbreak.
Abu Qamar also stressed the importance of basic infection-control measures, including good ventilation in classrooms and childcare facilities. Health guidance from the ministry says that diseases spread through the air or droplets are easier to contain when families and institutions follow simple preventive steps and act quickly when symptoms appear.
The warning comes as the ministry pushes ahead with a nationwide vaccination campaign against measles and rubella, designed to protect children and strengthen community immunity. The Cairo Governorate portal said preparations were completed for a campaign due to begin on 25 October 2026, with all governorates checking vaccine supplies, medical equipment and staffing before launch.
Official statements say the drive will target about 21 million children aged from nine months to 10 years across Egypt. The vaccine will be offered free of charge to Egyptian and non-Egyptian children alike, and no documents are required, a step the ministry says is intended to make access as simple as possible for families.
The campaign builds on Egypt’s recent public-health record. The World Health Organisation confirmed in February 2026 that the country had kept its measles- and rubella-free status for a third straight year, following a review of national data and surveillance systems. Health officials say the new vaccination effort is meant to preserve that achievement and prevent future outbreaks as the school year gets under way.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
