Stay Safe & Healthy In Cairo

Stay safe

Civil unrest has been a chronic concern in Cairo since 2011, when a revolution deposed President Hosni Mubarak. President Mohamed Morsi was deposed in July 2013, sparking deadly street protests and riots. Protests in Tahrir Square and others, although typically nonviolent in nature, may quickly turn violent, posing a threat to many women. As stated at the top of the article, it is not recommended to go to Egypt at this time (as of July 2013); the streets of Cairo, in particular, are dangerous.

During politically quiet periods, you may go around the major streets whenever you like. It is rather safe, and there are constantly people smiling and wanting to assist. Women should expect to be the focus of frequent catcalling, but it seldom, if ever, extends beyond that.

Another key issue in Cairo is crossing roadways. Traffic signals, which are only found in a few places, are frequently ignored. During peak periods in downtown Cairo, police officers may be monitoring traffic at important crossroads. Crossing the street is like playing the computer game “Frogger,” where you rush across one lane at a time when there is a short gap in traffic. One excellent method for crossing a roadway is to position oneself next to an Egyptian who is crossing the street and follow.

In addition, while travelling in a cab, the driver may drive recklessly and at high speeds. If you feel uncomfortable at any point, just urge the driver to stop and get out.

Stay healthy

Tummy upsets

As in the rest of Egypt, be cautious about what you consume. Raw green vegetables, egg-based condiments such as mayonnaise, and minced meat are especially dangerous. To be on the safe side, avoid cold salads and puddings from buffets, especially at 5* hotels. Although opinions on tap water differ, most tourists prefer to drink bottled water. Large bottles of water are available for EGP2-3. Avoid using ice in beverages and only consume fruit with a skin that can be washed or peeled. You may discover that the stomach drugs you brought from home simply do not work. All tourists would be wise to get Egyptian brand medications from any drugstore. Entocid and Antinal are the most effective and widely used. Taking two of these pills with a glass of water in a few hours nearly usually stops diarrhea and vomiting. If symptoms linger, it is best to see a doctor since dehydration in the summer may be severe.

Smog levels may reach dangerously high levels, particularly in the late summer and early autumn, before the rains arrive. This, along with the summer heat, may make spending time outside in the summer quite uncomfortable.

Mosquitos

Mosquitoes are present in several areas of Egypt, therefore you may encounter them. They are active from twilight until morning, then seek for a dark, secluded area to sleep throughout the day. They like damp and rainy settings to breed in. They also like hedges and lush green gardens. At night, sitting near lakes, pools, or in a garden might be suicidal. Only the female bites, and one female in a bedroom may cause a lot of pain by morning, therefore it’s always a good idea to get rid of any before going to bed. Because they move owing to air pressure, a fly swatter is preferable; swatting with a newspaper will not work. Mosquito repellent sprays are also ineffective.

At nightfall, most hotels will use smoke sprays to keep them quiet, although they will awaken and attack later.

The best defense is to murder anybody who is in a hotel room. When going out at night, wear long sleeves and long pants. They don’t like moving air, so sit in a wind or in front of a fan while you’re outdoors. Mosquito pills and burners just put them to sleep; they do not kill them. It is preferable to spend a few minutes wandering about the hotel room killing any that you notice than to suffer from itchy and painful bites for days.

Hospitals

Hotels often have a house doctor on call for medical services. Any significant surgery should be conducted outside of Egypt, although the following hospitals are widely regarded as the finest in Cairo:

• Cleopatra Hospital, Heliopolis,  +20 2 2414-3931.  
• Dar El Fouad Hospital, 6th of October City,  +20 2 3835-6030.  

Backpackers may see physicians’ offices on board signs all across Cairo. They are particular to their field. Simply hunt for one and then enquire about it. It’s worth noting that most operations don’t open until after 5 p.m. and occasionally don’t close until after midnight. A consultation cost includes a consultation as well as one follow-up session.

During the day, visitors may visit private hospitals such as El Salam, Dar Al Fouad, 6 October University Hospital, Ain Shams University Hospital, and Kasr El-Eney. Each features an outpatient clinic staffed by a variety of experts. There is usually no need for an appointment, and you will be seen depending on how early you come. The charge for a consultation and follow-up at the outpatient clinic at 6 October University Hospital is 40le.