Avian Flu Endemic in Egypt

[Hurghada Lady]

Avian Flu Endemic in Egypt




Metwalli Yassin and Hisham Salem 24/ 10/ 2008


The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said that Egypt informed the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) that bird flu has become an endemic disease in Egypt that almost has a regular infection rate throughout the year.

Also the Ministry of Health said it has an undeclared plan in anticipation of an epidemic spread of the disease.

WOAH warned Egyptians of buying live birds or deal with their waste or even walk near the shops that sell them.

FAO expert, Dr. Ihab el-Masry, said Egypt's declaration that the disease has become endemic does not mean it is facing disaster, pointing out that the current situation is much better than what it was like in 2006.

However, he said: “It is difficult to say when the disease would be completely eliminated, given its spread in 25 densely populated governorates in Egypt.”

He ruled out that the global economic crisis would affect the grants given to Egypt to fight bird flu, adding that the U.S. is the largest donor of the projects that combat the disease, as it finances two such projects for 14.5 million dollars over three years.

He also said that Germany and Spain are involved in similar projects, stressing that none of these countries would halt aid.

He added that FAO is present in Egypt to assist the government, stressing that these projects did not face any obstacles from the government.

Ministry of Health spokesman Dr. Abdel Rahman Shahin said: “We have a detailed plan with the procedures to be taken in case the disease turns into an epidemic.” He expected a global catastrophe in case the bird flu virus mutates.

He added: “The last human case of bird flu was on April 15. The total of the cases is 50, of which 22 have recovered. The disease’s mortality rate so far is 44% as opposed to the 63% of the world average.”
He said that a new vaccine is being prepared in collaboration with France to protect the birds from the disease.

An expert at the American Ministry of Agriculture said that bird flu in Egypt is a major problem because 70% of the daily production of poultry is slaughtered outside the slaughterhouse in private poultry shops.

Dr. Farid Hosni, former expert at FAO, said farmers do not report infections due to the absence of a clear policy to compensate them for their losses. “Raising chicken is the sole income of 25% of the Egyptian families, with 85% in rural areas and the rest in the cities,” he said, contending that bird flu is a man-made catastrophe.

Spokesman of the World Health Organization in Egypt, Dr. Ibrahim el-Kirdani, urged the people to eat frozen birds slaughtered under the supervision of the health authorities.

[FABlux]

I know its bad but the number of cases is really remarkably small. Glad to say we always eat frozen chickens (can't face eating 1 I've already met )

[Goddess]

Glad to say we always eat frozen chickens (can't face eating 1 I've already met )

You're lucky - when I first came here, frozen chickens were rarely available and were highly mistrusted. Fresh was the only way to go!

The first time I opened the plastic bag Mr G brought home I nearly hurled straight into said bag. There were still legs and head attached and there was an eye ball looking right at me.

After that he learned his lesson and got the chicken shop man to cut off all the offending appendages. But the warmth of the thing still used to really get to me.

Thank God frozen chickens are now readily available and popular!

[Hurghada Lady]

Thankfully, I don't eat chicken but I do eat eggs, when there is someone to cook them!