Last winter Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population reported flu at about two thirds of detected cases, RSV at about 18% and COVID-19 at 1 to 2% (14 December 2025). A dated planner: the flu vaccine announced for this winter, the ministry’s school advice, how the three viruses differ, and the signs that mean an emergency.
Last winter, Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population reported flu, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and COVID-19 circulating at the same time: on 14 December 2025 its spokesman put flu at about two thirds of detected cases, RSV at about 18% and COVID-19 at 1 to 2%. This planner keeps those figures, the vaccine facts and the sources in one place.
It covers what happened last winter, who the flu vaccine is for in Egypt, what the ministry said about schools, how the three viruses differ and which signs mean an emergency. We did not find the ministry’s own pages on the season’s figures or on where to get the vaccine on its home page (read 23 October 2026), so its statements below are as Egyptian news outlets reported them. WHO and CDC pages are cited with their dates. This page cannot tell you which virus you or your child has, and it is not medical advice.
In short:
- Last winter’s split, as the ministry gave it on 14 December 2025: flu about two thirds of detected cases, RSV about 18%, COVID-19 1 to 2%. We found no official forecast for winter 2026/27, so this is a record, not a prediction.
- The ministry announced flu vaccine supply in phases from 1 September 2026 through Vacsera, the Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines: more than 300,000 doses and 28 centres (reported 22 September 2026).
- Some signs mean an emergency. If you or your child has one, go to the nearest emergency department or call emergency services now.
Last checked: 23 October 2026. Updates: 23 October 2026, first edition. Figures and vaccine arrangements change during the season, so confirm them before you rely on them.
What is seasonal flu, and how is it different from RSV and COVID-19?
Seasonal flu is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. WHO’s fact sheet of 28 February 2025 says symptoms usually last around a week. RSV and COVID-19 are caused by different viruses.
| Virus | What WHO says it is | Higher risk of severe illness, per WHO | Prevention WHO mentions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seasonal flu (WHO, 28 Feb 2025) | An acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. | Pregnant women, children under 5, older people, people with chronic medical conditions, people with immunosuppressive conditions or treatments. | Annual vaccination. The groups WHO recommends it for are in the table further down. |
| RSV (WHO, 19 Dec 2025) | A virus that infects the respiratory tract from the nose to the lungs. WHO says there is no specific treatment. | Infants, with those under six months at highest risk. WHO adds that RSV can cause severe disease in elderly people and people with underlying illnesses. | For infants, a vaccine given in pregnancy or a long-acting antibody given to the baby. For elderly people and adults with certain underlying illnesses, such as lung and heart disease, three licensed vaccines. |
| COVID-19 (WHO, 27 Nov 2025) | A disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. | Older adults, people with underlying conditions (WHO names diabetes, heart or lung disease, obesity and weakened immune systems), and unvaccinated people. | A risk-based approach to vaccination. For people at high risk, revaccination may be needed 6 to 12 months after the most recent dose. |
Read on 23 October 2026. WHO’s wording is shortened. We found no Egyptian source on whether the RSV products are available here, so ask your doctor.
Can I tell flu from COVID-19 by the symptoms?
No. CDC says you cannot tell the difference between flu and COVID-19 by the symptoms alone, because many of the signs and symptoms are the same, and that testing is needed to confirm a diagnosis (page last reviewed 17 September 2024). CDC’s page covers flu and COVID-19 only. What a test result means for you is your doctor’s call.
What did flu, RSV and COVID-19 look like in Egypt last winter?
Two ministry statements from last winter gave figures. On 14 December 2025 the ministry’s spokesman put flu at about two thirds of detected cases, RSV at about 18% and COVID-19 at 1 to 2%; on 5 January 2026 the deputy minister listed flu viruses first, then the nasal virus, then RSV. Both are below, as Egyptian news outlets reported them (read 23 October 2026).
| Reported | Who said it | What was said |
|---|---|---|
| 14 December 2025 | The ministry’s spokesman, Dr Hossam Abdelghaffar | Flu was about two thirds of detected cases. RSV was second, at about 18%. COVID-19 was the least common, 1 to 2% of the respiratory viruses circulating. Parainfluenza, rhinovirus and adenovirus made up very small shares. |
| 5 January 2026 | Deputy Minister Dr Amr Kandil | The flu season began about three weeks earlier than in previous years in Egypt. Flu viruses were the most widespread, followed by what he called the nasal virus, then RSV. Flu A(H1N1), the type that had been most widespread in the second half of November 2025, saw its prevalence fall from 61% to 22% during the second half of December 2025, while A(H3N2) and flu B stood at 40% and 36%, respectively. |
Both rows describe winter 2025/26, not this winter.
The two statements rank the viruses differently: on 14 December RSV came second, and on 5 January the deputy minister listed the nasal virus ahead of it. Different officials spoke about three weeks apart, so treat each as a snapshot. We found no ministry forecast or figures for winter 2026/27 yet.
In Egypt: who is the flu vaccine for, and where is it?
The ministry announced that flu vaccine is being supplied through Vacsera in phases from 1 September 2026: more than 300,000 doses, through 28 serum-and-vaccine centres in most governorates, in trivalent and quadrivalent types registered with the Egyptian Drug Authority (reported 22 September 2026). On 27 September 2026 it was reported to have published the addresses of the health offices where the vaccine is available, governorate by governorate, as pictures. We have not copied them here: check that report, or ask your doctor, your pharmacist or your local health directorate where to go.
The groups the ministry named, as reported on 27 September 2026, set beside WHO’s flu fact sheet of 28 February 2025:
| Group | Ministry (reported 27 Sep 2026) | WHO flu fact sheet, 28 Feb 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| People over 65 | Named | In its vaccine list |
| Children | Named | In its vaccine list, aged 6 months to 5 years |
| Pregnant women | Named | In its vaccine list |
| People with chronic disease | Named, with heart disease, diabetes and respiratory disease | In its vaccine list |
| People with weak immunity | Named | Not in its annual-vaccination list; named as at greater risk of severe disease, and WHO says vaccination is especially important for people at high risk of complications |
| Health workers | Named | In its vaccine list |
| Travellers, and people going for Hajj or Umrah | Named | Not named on that page |
Read on 23 October 2026. The ministry’s list is as the deputy minister gave it, as reported.
Deputy Minister Dr Amr Kandil was reported on 27 September 2026 as saying that vaccination before the season starts helps strengthen protection. The reports we read give no price and do not say whether the vaccine is free. Whether you or your child should have it, which type and when are for your doctor or pharmacist. Questions worth asking:
- Am I, or is my child, in a group the ministry named?
- Which flu vaccine is available at my nearest centre, and does it suit me?
- When should I have it, and what should I bring?
What did the ministry say about schools?
On 14 December 2025 the ministry’s spokesman said there were no recommendations to close schools or to reduce class sizes. The guidance he listed was seasonal flu vaccination, better ventilation in classrooms, good nutrition for students, regular sanitising of hands and surfaces, and keeping children who have respiratory symptoms at home for at least 24 hours after the symptoms end (reported by a news outlet, read 23 October 2026). That was last winter’s guidance. We found no new school guidance for this winter, so follow your school’s notices.
When should I see a doctor, and when is it an emergency?
WHO’s flu fact sheet (28 February 2025) says people with severe symptoms or other medical conditions should seek medical care, and people with mild symptoms should seek it if their symptoms get worse. WHO’s COVID-19 fact sheet (27 November 2025) says people at risk of severe disease, or with severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing (especially at rest), confusion or persistent pain or pressure in the chest, need immediate medical attention; its list is longer.
CDC’s page on flu signs and symptoms (last reviewed 26 August 2024) lists these emergency warning signs of flu complications:
In children
- Fast breathing or trouble breathing
- Bluish lips or face
- Ribs pulling in with each breath
- Chest pain
- Severe muscle pain (the child refuses to walk)
- Dehydration (no urine for 8 hours, dry mouth, no tears when crying)
- Not alert or interacting when awake
- Seizures
- Fever above 104°F (40°C) that is not controlled by fever-reducing medicine
- In children younger than 12 weeks, any fever
- Fever or cough that improve but then return or worsen
- Worsening of chronic medical conditions
In adults
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Persistent dizziness, confusion, or being unable to wake the person
- Seizures
- Not urinating
- Severe muscle pain
- Severe weakness or unsteadiness
- Fever or cough that improve but then return or worsen
- Worsening of chronic medical conditions
CDC says people with these warning signs should get medical care right away. It also says the lists are not all-inclusive and asks readers to consult a medical provider about any other symptom that is severe or concerning. If you or your child has any of the signs above, go to the nearest emergency department or call emergency services now. An app cannot make that call: urgency is the clinician’s call.
When you do see a doctor, say what you notice in your own words and when it started: how patients describe symptoms shows why that works.
How do I get ready for winter?
Four small steps:
- Write your health summary once: allergies, current medicines, long-term conditions, doctors and where your results are kept, on one page you can hand over whenever a doctor, a pharmacist or a form asks.
- Know who you would see first. If you are unsure which doctor to start with, every patient journey starts with a question has a first-stop checklist.
- Before buying any cold or flu product, show the pharmacist your medicine list and ask them to go through the leaflet’s warnings with you.
- Check your school’s notices for this winter’s rules on sick children.
Try it
My health summary
The details forms ask for every time, on one page. Fill in what applies to you, then print it or keep a copy.
Your page
Your summary appears here as you fill it in.
Nothing you type is saved, not even in this browser, and nothing is sent unless you do it yourself. Update the page whenever a medicine or a condition changes.
Where Medigize stands
Medigize is a navigation tool. It is not part of the ministry, and it does not test for, diagnose or vaccinate against any virus. We are building a record that moves with the patient, shared only with their consent. If you would like to follow that work, you can register your interest.
Frequently asked questions
What is seasonal flu?
WHO describes it as an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. Symptoms usually last around a week (fact sheet of 28 February 2025).
Is flu the most common winter virus in Egypt?
Last winter the ministry said so: about two thirds of detected cases on 14 December 2025, with RSV about 18% and COVID-19 1 to 2%. That is a record, not a forecast; we found no figures for winter 2026/27 yet.
Where can I get the flu vaccine in Egypt?
The ministry said it is supplied through Vacsera from 1 September 2026, through 28 serum-and-vaccine centres in most governorates (reported 22 September 2026). On 27 September 2026 it was reported to have published the addresses of the health offices that have it, governorate by governorate, as pictures. Ask your doctor, your pharmacist or your local health directorate where to go.
Can I tell flu from COVID-19 at home?
Not by symptoms alone. CDC says flu and COVID-19 share many signs and that testing is needed to confirm a diagnosis (page last reviewed 17 September 2024).
When is it an emergency?
CDC lists emergency warning signs for children and for adults, among them trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure and seizures (page last reviewed 26 August 2024); the full lists are above. If you or your child has any of them, go to the nearest emergency department or call emergency services now.
Medigize is a non-diagnostic navigation tool. This is general information, not medical advice. In an emergency, call an ambulance or go to the nearest emergency department.
Sources
- Ministry of Health and Population, Egypt: home page (we did not find the season’s figures or the vaccine addresses on it), read 23 October 2026
- Masrawy, 14 December 2025: the ministry’s spokesman on the most common respiratory viruses and on schools, read 23 October 2026
- El Watan, 5 January 2026: the deputy minister on the flu season and the ministry’s monitoring system, read 23 October 2026
- Masrawy, 22 September 2026: the ministry on flu vaccine supply through Vacsera, read 23 October 2026
- Masrawy, 27 September 2026: the ministry on flu vaccine availability, the groups it named and the published addresses (as pictures), read 23 October 2026
- World Health Organization: influenza (seasonal), fact sheet of 28 February 2025, read 23 October 2026
- World Health Organization: respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), fact sheet of 19 December 2025, read 23 October 2026
- World Health Organization: coronavirus disease (COVID-19), fact sheet of 27 November 2025, read 23 October 2026
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: flu symptoms and complications (page last reviewed 26 August 2024), read 23 October 2026
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: similarities and differences between flu and COVID-19 (page last reviewed 17 September 2024), read 23 October 2026
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