Egypt's Health, Agriculture Ministries denies rumors of poultry epidemic

Egypt Today

2 days ago

CAIRO – 29 May 2025: In a joint statement, the Ministries of Health and Population and Agriculture and Land Reclamation denied recent 'rumors' circulating on social media regarding a viral epidemic affecting poultry that would make them unsafe to eat, approach, or handle.
The statement confirmed that the epidemiological situation in poultry farms remains stable, according to nationwide survey reports. It emphasized that all preventive measures and surveillance systems are functioning effectively to mitigate any potential health risks. The ministries continue to coordinate closely to monitor zoonotic diseases—those transmissible between animals and humans.
The Ministry of Health has intensified monitoring through its National Infectious Disease Surveillance Program and the event-based surveillance system, which tracks and investigates health events that may affect public health. These mechanisms ensure rapid detection and response, in coordination with other government bodies.
Since the beginning of 2025, the Ministry's event-based system has processed over 100,000 reported cases, all of which have been verified and addressed by the appropriate health authorities. About 3,500 of these cases were referred to the Veterinary Department at the Ministry of Agriculture for investigation. Importantly, no confirmed cases of the alleged poultry virus mentioned in recent online rumors have been recorded.
Preventive teams are actively conducting field investigations—especially near poultry farms and markets—under the guidance of the Preventive Medicine Sector and the General Authority for Veterinary Services. The Ministry of Health has also enhanced medical preparedness, deploying specialized teams to hospitals and health units to manage any respiratory illness or fever cases with a history of contact with birds.
The public is urged to report any unusual health cases immediately. Suspected samples are analyzed at the Central Public Health Laboratories and their regional branches. Health facilities have been equipped with necessary medications and vaccines to respond to emergencies.
The Ministry of Health also continues to raise public awareness through official channels, promoting preventive practices such as thorough handwashing after handling birds, properly cooking meat and eggs, avoiding direct contact with visibly sick birds
In parallel, the Ministry of Agriculture has undertaken a comprehensive inspection of poultry farms to ensure production safety. The Minister of Agriculture directed the General Authority for Veterinary Services to examine a representative sample of poultry production.
To date, 3,492 farms across all governorates have been inspected, covering over 22.5 million birds, including chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, and quail. The reported infection rate remains below 3%, which is considered normal. Samples from suspected farms were sent to the reference laboratory for analysis, and results reaffirmed the stability of the epidemiological situation.
Egypt's poultry sector is a key source of animal protein, with annual production of approximately 1.5 billion birds and 15 billion table eggs, reaching near self-sufficiency. Since January, over 4.5 million birds have been vaccinated in domestic and small-scale operations. Surveillance and field monitoring continue to detect any emerging diseases or variants.
For inquiries or reports, the Ministry of Agriculture's hotline (19561) is available 24/7 to support breeders and coordinate rapid response efforts.