Government Denies Reports of 30% Poultry Mortality Due to Disease Outbreak

Egypt Today

18-05-2025

Chicken- CC via Flickr/ Needpix.com
CAIRO – 18 May 2025: The Egyptian government has denied claims of the Poultry Producers Union that 30 percent of the country's poultry population has died due to the spread of a viral disease.
In televised comments on the Al-Hekaya talk show on MBC Misr Friday evening, Tharwat El-Zeiny, vice president of the Poultry Producers Union, alleged that over 30 percent of Egypt's poultry stock has recently perished. He warned that the remaining 70 percent is also at risk if immediate measures are not taken to address the situation.
El-Zeiny added that representatives from the union had previously met with the General Organization for Veterinary Services to monitor and assess the situation.
In response, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk dismissed the reports as "exaggerated and completely untrue." Speaking via phone on the talk show The Last Word on ON TV, the minister emphasized that current seasonal poultry mortality rates range between 3 and 6 percent, which are internationally recognized as standard and are primarily attributed to climate change during this time of year.
The minister explained that these rates are mostly observed in open-system farms that have not modernized their operations. He criticized some producers for failing to take advantage of the presidential initiative launched by the Central Bank of Egypt, which offers loans with interest rates not exceeding 5 percent to support small-scale farmers in upgrading their systems.
'We have more than 27,000 poultry farms in Egypt. Claiming that 30 percent of the poultry production has been lost would mean the equivalent of about 8,000 farms—this is inaccurate and highly exaggerated,' the minister stated.
He added that Egypt produces approximately 1.55 billion birds annually, which covers around 98 percent of the local market's demand. Additionally, annual table egg production has reached about 15.5 billion eggs, ensuring full self-sufficiency.
Meanwhile, Ministry spokesperson Mohamed Al-Qersh issued a statement affirming that the General Authority for Veterinary Services, through its directorates in various governorates, continues to support the poultry production sector. Efforts include routine vaccination campaigns, active disease surveillance, and ongoing inspections of farms and markets.
He noted that expanded campaigns were recently launched in four governorates, as part of a broader inspection and monitoring initiative being implemented nationwide.
This is not the first time the ministry has addressed such claims. In March 2024, it similarly denied reports about the alleged spread of a new virus affecting poultry and causing widespread mortality.