An Egyptian MP has called on the government to publicly disclose the causes behind the sudden deaths of four siblings in the village of Delga, Minya governorate amid growing public concern and speculation.
Maha Abdel Nasser, a member of parliament for the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, urged authorities to release the results of autopsies and toxicology reports following the deaths four children from the same family last Wednesday July 9.
Their other two siblings remain hospitalized in critical condition.
In an official statement, Abdel Nasser demanded that the Ministry of Health and other relevant bodies issue a "clear, detailed, and transparent" explanation of the tragedy. She emphasized that whether the cause was medical, foodborne, or environmental, the public deserves answers.
"Delays in releasing accurate information only deepen public anxiety and fuel harmful rumors," she warned.
Meanwhile, health ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar told Al Manassa that the ministry's role was limited to ensuring there was no public health threat. "Our job is to reassure the public that no epidemic or contagious disease was behind these deaths," he said. "As for determining the exact cause, that is the responsibility of the investigative authorities."
Abdel Ghaffar confirmed that the ministry had ruled out infectious disease as a cause and had communicated this in an earlier statement, adding that the true cause of death had been identified but would not be disclosed publicly by the ministry.
The ministry had previously denied reports that the children died from meningitis, citing the lack of a pattern consistent with an infectious outbreak. It argued that simultaneous deaths among four siblings would not align with typical epidemiological progression, which generally sees staggered outcomes due to differences in age, immunity, and viral load.
However, in her statement, Abdel Nasser offered a starkly detailed sequence of events, outlining that on the morning of July 9, all six children began experiencing acute symptoms: high fever, severe diarrhea, persistent vomiting, and neurological convulsions that progressed to loss of consciousness.
"These symptoms are highly similar to those of meningitis, which understandably caused panic among the residents," she noted.
Four of the siblings ultimately died from the incident. Three of them passed away shortly after reaching Deir Mawas Central Hospital, while a fourth succumbed later at Minya's Poison Control Center. The two remaining children are currently in critical condition, receiving intensive care at Minya University Hospital.
Abdel Nasser questioned whether medical preparedness was equal across the two hospitals. "This situation compels us to ask whether Deir Mawas Central and Minya University Hospital were equally equipped to handle this emergency," she said.
The tragic deaths have left the community in profound shock. Rumors of a meningitis outbreak rapidly spread on social media, prompting hundreds of parents to seek emergency vaccinations for their children at Delga’s local health unit.
Abdel Nasser, for her part, praised the swift intervention by the public prosecution. In response to the crisis, prosecutors promptly launched an investigation and ordered comprehensive forensic examinations, including autopsies and lab analysis of food, water, gas, and medications found in the household.
However, she criticized what she described as "attempts at secrecy or delay" in communicating facts to the public. "Such handling only worsens the crisis and undermines trust," she said, adding that any authority found negligent in its response must be held accountable.
