According to a recently published study, there are more than 500,000 new Hepatitis C infections in Egypt every year, far more than any other country in the world.
Around 10% of the most populous Arab country are infected with the virus causing Hepatitis C, creating a huge reservoir that drives the infection. The Ministry of Health in Egypt, however, claims the numbers in the new survey are "exaggerated".
Since it is a blood borne diseases, the bulk of virus transmission takes place through the healthcare system. It first spread in Egypt through syringe reuse. Lax sterilization practices in public hospitals and private clinics feed the epidemic.