Government officials have decided to apply strict measures to prevent spread of birds flu, launching committees to ensure safety rules are applied in farms and theatening to shut down violators, said Agriculture Minister Adel al-Beltagy.
The minister blamed the spread of the disease on the false traditions, saying that this is being resolved through veterinary convoys to raise awareness among farmers
In remarks to Al-Masry Al-Youm, Beltagy said birds flu has become an endemic in Egypt, adding that several measures are required to control the disease. Hygiene standards should be applied in farms.
He pointed to investments in the poultry sector estimated at LE22 billion.
Meanwhile, an official report by the preventive medicine central department, affiliated to the ministry’s General Authority for Veterinary Services, revealed that areas of infection with the virus reached 211 in 21 governorates. The places of infection includes nine farms, 153 houses and 49 markets since January. The organization is currently working on limiting the transfer of birds among the governorates, following on the farms in Delta and Nile Valley and suspension of violating farms’ work.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
