EGYPT - Jan 9, 2008 - February 25th

[Theresa42]

Re: EGYPT - Jan 9, 2008+

A couple of suspected cases reported here (some/all reported earlier?) -- plus some negatives reported.

Google-translated from Arabic:

Epicentre of avian influenza in Luxor
4152 seizure of pregnancy birds living dissenting Alexandria
Jan 18, 2008

Written by - Hosni Hafiz Atif Debis and Mr. season:

Able Directorate of Supply and Internal Trade Alexandria restraint 4152 subject to birds living in contravention of the conditions of health and 65 thousand kilometers birds live and slaughtered outside the massacres mechanism of the Directorate of Veterinary Medicine, in a campaign expanded markets city. Asked Engineer Musaad Almnwati Undersecretary raise the maximum readiness Directorate and cancel all leave for the inspectors Supply and intensify campaigns to areas east and west of the city.

He emphasized the importance of passage Almnwati daily shops bird markets in all areas east and west of Alexandria with an emphasis on the withdrawal of licences shops violation.

He said: periodic samples will be sent to labs central administration Ministry of Health to ensure that any injured birds live with the virus and that it had been executed 65 thousand kilometers poultry Bmedfn Burj Al Arab.

On the other hand revealed labs of the Ministry of Health negative 16 cases of bird flu virus hospitals Tanta [Gharbiyah] and Mahala [Gharbiah] and Dickson while were detained three other cases of suspected Basapthm disease, Eng Shafie Corner governor of Western [Gharbiyah] veterinary medicine continuing campaigns to remove nests and random executions of live birds and led campaigns the execution of 300 bird species from different surfaces of houses and the removal of 25 nests.

In the same vein, health authorities detained Fayyoum governorate Halima Zidane collected chicks dealer from the village of Tame rupees status to suspect the safety of bird flu disease hospital dietary after the emergence of symptoms resembling influenza and the Directorate of Health and veterinary medicine to take preventive action in the home of Mrs. infected and the surrounding houses have been taking samples and sending them to laboratories for analysis.

On the other hand, the focus of the injury [in poultry] was discovered bird flu in a house on the farm from the village of Al-Mustafa Alillaih of the Centre Luxor.

The Commission included in its membership representatives from the environmental, health and veterinary medicine to the house of the citizen and they execute infected birds and the work of countless houses nearby.

http://www.alwafd.org/v3/News/NewsDetail.php?id=1059&type=local&PHPSESSID=2ebbb827eb418cb544356fcc9af01602

[Theresa42]

Re: EGYPT - Jan 9, 2008+

A couple of suspected cases mentioned here (at least one of them reported earlier, I think).

Google-translated from Arabic:

The provinces facing the disease .. Massacres mechanism
SLA to prevent the movement of infected birds .. Remove nesting surfaces
Jan 18, 2008

Most provinces decided to establish a mechanism for the massacres of poultry to face the bird flu. But they are still less than the level required .. It also decided governorates ambushed [checkpoints] work 24 hours to prevent the movement of infected birds and the removal of nesting surfaces .. The heads of districts in Cairo that the responsibility to meet bird flu and eliminate a shared responsibility among all government agencies and citizens.

Written by Magdi Youssef:

Hamdi said Maj. Gen. Salim Al-Waily President: to eradicate this phenomenon must be eliminated from the basic source for the withdrawal of live poultry from the premises calling for the citizens not to buy live poultry, not to receive demanded that those who smuggled roundabout ways.

The Spring Hashim, President neighbourhood of peace and President Mohammad Husseini al neighborhood hence also that the procedures meet the ongoing avian influenza since the beginning of the campaign to implement the directives d. Al minister and the governor of the capital they had to remove hundreds of nesting chickens were kept in living birds such popular areas.

Mohammed al East [Sharkiya]

For his. Attiya Mustafa Undersecretary of the Ministry of Veterinary Medicine Neuro maintain that the 12 Mdzra automatically only accommodate 115 thousand chickens per day or 25% of production, which means that the preservation needs to maintain 36 Mdzra another.

Wrote Dr. Abdel Razek arose:

Menoufiya in the Governor General Hassan Hamida prevent nesting on the tops of houses cities to maintain poultry .. The Slaughterhouse Mubarak industrial automation area will be done in April.

For his. Hamdi al Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture maintaining that the Directorate in collaboration with relevant bodies to control the 25 car loaded with poultry were paving the way for the indiscriminate sale in the market.

Zapata Hospital Dietetic Abdel Nour Shams Mohamed Hanafi, 50-year-old homemaker resident Bnahih Abu Awali Science Center .. On suspicion of being infected with avian influenza result Mkhalttha birds home.

Mansoura [Dakahlia] Mustafa Izzet

In the province of Dakahliya, Dr Fathi tabled Undersecretary director of the Directorate of Veterinary Medicine that there are four massacres are being finalized updated card 13 thousand birds per hour.

Abattoir single

Tanta [Gharbia] Ali Abu Dashic

Dr. Ahmed Saeed, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of veterinary medicine vegetables have been abattoir to one district and the status of being the establishment of 4 massacres and other centres Place fungi and Kafr al-Mahalla, at a total cost of 75 million pounds.

QALUBAIYA Majdi Rifai

For his. Imad Mahdi Undersecretary of the Ministry of Veterinary Medicine able to maintain the 29 Mdzra poultry all work in the slaughter and clean and Packaging poultry is privately owned.

Aswan Ahmed Awad

The brigade Aswan Governor Samir Youssef absence of a mechanism for the massacres slaughtered bird preservation in the absence of any live poultry farms, whether governmental or private sector, pointing to the absence of any hotbeds of avian influenza Aswan.

Burj Al Arab Hamid night:

In Alexandria prepared Directorate of Veterinary Medicine with the delegates of agriculture and police ambushed four IPs Alexandria working for 24 hours to prevent the movement of infected birds between governorates.

Second case

Fayoum Nabeel Khalaf

In Fayoum received hospital dietary the second case this month of one of the women suspected of being infected with the deadly bird flu disease, called benign papillary Zidane 45 years dealer birds village rupees Center Tame.

Lake [Beheira] Hamdi Bakr

Major General Abdul Hamid said Shahat, who doubles as Chairman of the Town and City got gunpowder had been vaccinated birds 141 thousand homes and villages of the city to them. And managed security services, the environment and health of controlling 8 cars loaded with live poultry coming from the Western [Gharbiyah] Province and 5 cars loaded Balsplh.

http://www.algomhuria.net.eg/almessa...d/detail01.asp (<< not a permalink)

[Theresa42]

Re: EGYPT - Jan 9, 2008+

Report from one pig farm in Qalubiya that the pigs there were only tested at the time of the initial outbreak of bird flu in Egypt (March 2006) and that they've never been tested since.

Google-translated from Arabic:

"Evening" [The Evening Gazette] stormed the Kingdom in particular pigs
Educational 20 thousand head of the Central residents .. And Veterinary Medicine absent
Jan 18, 2008

QALUBAIYA Majdi Rifai

Kingdom of pigs in particular. Kingdom of all standards are laws that can not leave it. Educational witness where 20 thousand head erosion, which is central to people without taking into account health problems in light of the spread of avian influenza, especially as one of the most dangerous animals pigs that can be a mediator in the transfer of this disease.

"Evening" stormed the "Kingdom of pigs" [name of farm, I think] and revealed many surprises during the curfew in the maze of farms and listen to their owners .. Surprisingly, officials emphasized that chronic crisis and return to long years and resolved not easy holders farms millionaires .. They demanded immediate intervention of the government before they occur disaster.

"Evening" revealed that since two years since the start of the spread of avian influenza in Egypt did not come close veterinary medicine from these farms .. He just sampling at the start of the disease is no longer one thereafter.

"Particular" village recently turned to the city of about one million and a half people from the village to the largest level of the Republic and turned into a "junkyard" for the provinces of Cairo, Qaliubiya received daily hundreds of tons of garbage fed to the approximately 20 thousand shares pig dos and playing with young children and poultry from various species and this lies the danger, goats and succession.

More than 150 farm-filled PIGS, perfume smells made veterinary officials able fear approach where the first and last time at the start of the emergence of the disease two years ago.

Not storm the "Evening" of this place called the Kingdom of pigs easy gathered plantation owners and refused to enter not succeed in convincing them to enter only after the matter in their favour.

20 thousand head

Ali Hussein said that the region's farm includes 150 farms, with more than 20 thousand head of a pig and there Movement sale of the altar through Gazarin attending to buy pigs at the Kilo 4 pounds slaughtered in the massacres in Cairo or Alexandria knowing veterinary medicine because it is not allowed here in Alzraib throat.

Adds Syed Hamid Mahmoud was the farm and get rid of them sold with the emergence of avian influenza in February 2006, pointing out that the female pig give birth every 6 months between 8 to 14 pigs average of 20 pigs per year, like many rabbit birth and feed on waste because they were garbage collectors Commonwealth ended the entry of foreign companies in area 2000.

Mukhtar Khalil farm owner said that veterinary medicine does not attend here two years ago .. Where they came at the beginning of the emergence of the disease and got samples from the nose and confirms that the pigs Balzrayb all healthy and free of disease is a source of income for the people of the region.

A factor working

Saad said the teacher Nasr Hamed rose and turned the lion's Climate live in the region since the establishment in 1960 we have these buildings overlooking the nests and barns, where nearly thousand workers and a worker who collects garbage at six o'clock to revive North Cairo Qaliubiya knowledge, sort and sell the remnants of food for owners farms poultry to 25 pounds daily workers.

The wealthy

Eng Mustafa to the Director of Management Alzraib area of the city council, confirmed that this particular region is the richest of the rich population of Egypt because the garbage trade is profitable types of trades where companies come to them to get from the warehouse to ordinary glass, paper and cardboard and other paper tonnes and are raising all kinds of birds and animal residues count in addition to pigs.

Transfer is necessary

Says Mohamed Abdel Alioua member of a local council to maintain the town already regard to the Council to maintain the popular and all council discuss problems resulting from the collection of garbage from the owners Alzraib Over the years, and for 20 years, we demand to take these barns and nests outside Khanka particular in the desert, but not concerned about the same time.

The city is surrounded by remnants from Alzraib from everywhere and lying particular bank, which was closed completely the result of the dumping of waste .. The spread piles of garbage everywhere and on the vast and the resulting cloud of black smoke rising self-ignition result, which led to the injury of chest diseases majority of the population demanding Eng Majed George and Minister of the Environment work visit to the yards on the ground to see one.

Heavy legacy

He said. Mohammed Said, head of the city particular, I inherited a heavy legacy of problems and anxieties, as a result of this Alzraib The Government must intervene and the allocation of land to desert Khanka to transport pigs to and I was preparing a comprehensive study to purge the city of waste .. I say to the State shifted and rescued the country from the threat of these pigs, too, a study prepared for submission to the Justice Adli Hussein, governor Qaliubiya particularly pigs and confused children, workers and home to birds and one which constitutes a danger to the inhabitants of the region.

http://www.algomhuria.net.eg/almessa...d/detail02.asp (<< not a permalink)

[Theresa42]

Re: EGYPT - Jan 9, 2008+

Ministry of Health reports that most (all?) of the recent suspected cases in Egypt have/had the regular flu.

Hat-tip to pugmom for finding this article! (Second article on page.)

Google-translated from Arabic:

Supreme Committee chaired by the Minister of Agriculture: Lower hotbeds of avian influenza in the second week of January
Abdulrahman Shaheen: Human influenza behind the high incidence of suspicion
Jan 18, 2008

Ghada wrote Zine El Abidine and Magdi Ahmed:

The Supreme Committee for the decline in the number of bird flu-infected poultry hot during the second week of January compared with the first week .. Due to increased awareness and vigilance among citizens and intensifying vaccination campaigns.

The Commission also stressed the rise in cases of suspected human-to-human cases including 4,284 to 464 cases during this month .. Because of the spread of seasonal influenza.

This came in a committee meeting yesterday evening, the first headed by Amin Abaza, and Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, and the presence of the ministers of health and environment, local development, Governors Qaliubiya and Beni Suef and representatives of the Ministry of Defence and my organization WHO and Food and Agriculture.

Abdulrahman Shaheen adviser to the Minister of Health during the press conference that was held after the meeting, the Committee reviewed the global position of the disease by the World Health Organization reports up to 15 days of this month, which made it clear that human casualties around the world amounted to 350 cases of which 217 died and the case remained the total casualties in Egypt 43 cases since the beginning of the emergence of the disease in January 2006 died, including 19 cases, mostly from education, pointing out that domestic hospitals and the Ministry of Health received the 4,284 case [totally since March 2006] of suspected infection of his appearance, this month saw only 464 suspected case and that all suspected cases are conducting medical tests they withdrawn samples for analysis.

Meanwhile Committee to conduct epidemiological surveillance in five governorates, namely, Dakahlia, lake [Beheira], Giza, Fayoum and the West [Gharbiyah].

Mr. Nasr adviser to the Minister of Health that the number received by the ministry since the first hospitals in January this is the largest number of cases received by hospitals salt [Fevers Hospitals] suspicion in the world because of the wave of fear of the disease a positive attitude supports the efforts of official treatment and surveillance for cases of respiratory infections for early detection of human infections.

As also due to the spread of the seasonal human influenza during this period.

Mona Mehrez supervisor of Central Laboratory for control of poultry production was completed withdrawing more than 350 thousand samples with intensifying tests since last December and included campaigns veterinary 9 governorates and the number of committees involved in some 50 commission.

The decline results in the well poultry farms have been monitoring the 11 focus during the second week of the month of January 3 their farms while monitoring the results of the first week of the same month 33 hotbed of whom 7 farms and vehicles for the transport of birds which reflects increased awareness among educators along with the localities to intensify their campaigns to make sure that the decision to risk education in the home towns and immunization of birds like polio campaigns.

He added. Abdulrahman Shaheen, said that the Ministry of Health has 5.2 million doses of 'Tamiflu ?' property only authorized Bassett With the treatment of the disease have been made available in sufficient quantities than in units of the Ministry of Health with the risk of handling the property under any circumstances outside hospitals ministry saying that the reports confirm that death rates between the incidence of the lowest human world.

3 billion doses

The d. Mona Mehrez that absolutely no truth to rumours about the possibility of transmission of avian influenza fish .. She stressed that the virus does not affect the fish at all.

She stressed that the ministry imported in the last year of 3 billion doses of influenza vaccines .. Ensuring the availability of required quantities.

Abdulrahman Shaheen, said that all suspected cases are dealt with real estate Tamiflu by the results of analyses that the response of the virus for the real estate deal requires the property within 48 hours of his appearance.

http://www.elakhbar.org.eg/issues/17394/0700.html

[Siam]

Re: EGYPT - Jan 9, 2008+

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&langpair=ar&#37;7Cen&u=http://www.filbalad.com/NewsPrintable.asp%3FNewsId%3D23211%26SiteId%3D3

12 suspected human bird flu infection
الجمعة، 18 يناير 2008 - 16:38 Friday, January 18, 2008 - 16:38
بقلم: محمد الأمير By: Prince Mohamed
translated and edited out Arabic

Hospitals dietary detained in four provinces twelve good condition with respiratory symptoms similar to flu Tairo, with a new disease appeared among hundreds of birds in Marsa Matrouh Governorate, in contrast confirmed High Commission for the control of avian influenza infection rates decline.

The hospital received on Thursday salt Minya children developed symptoms of the disease, and in between Suef were detained two, and Alexandria were detained three cases, while detained Hospital Dietetic Qena after the death of a woman in her home five slowed, along with sporadic cases nationwide, according to the press "Egypt today" so that the total number of those suspected sickened to 151 citizens since the announcement of his appearance in Egypt.

. In Matrouh, revealed a joint committee of medical and health directorates executed 461 flying yet prove a new illness called "Newcastle", Dr. Sami Bisatti, President of the Egyptian Society of Animal Science, the new disease was very dangerous, and injury attributed to the failure of the farm fortifications necessary, He stressed the necessity of tightening preventive measures in poultry farms.


الجبلي Mountain




In contrast, the Supreme Committee for the control of avian influenza in a meeting attended by the ministers of health, agriculture, environment, eight governors to follow-up efforts aimed at Giza governorates and the West, Fayyoum and the lake and Dakahlia resulted in the decline rates of infection in the farms and Education household markedly during the past week, although the activity HIV is growing normally because of cooler weather.

. For his part, Dr. Hussein Abdel Razek Algerian head of the regional office of the World Health Organization in an interview with the newspaper that the world live pre-human epidemic of avian influenza, and HIV endemic in Egypt and will continue the indefinite period, demanding that the state continue to educate the citizens seriousness of the virus, not even turn the disease to a human pandemic.

. He said that the Algerian "Egypt more state in the province hit by bird flu, due to poverty and lack of health awareness especially among women Egyptian countryside," pointing to the occurrence of about 95% of injuries from contact with human influenza and the slaughter houses, where there are five million families rearing birds at home.
_________________

[Sally Furniss]

Re: EGYPT - Jan 9, 2008+

Not just a bunch of quacks: Egypt’s duck hunters

...Egypt is a popular pit-stop for a wide variety of birds migrating from Europe to the warmer climes of Africa during the winter months.
From December until the end of February many thousands of Teal, Shovelers, Wigeons, Gadwells, Mallards and the occasional Pintail will fly over the country, stopping at the country’s wetlands for rest and food....

...“I caught 10 just last week,” he says. “It was a lot easier years ago because there was more free land and so there were more birds. In one weekend I managed to take 200.”...

...The recent emergence of H5N1 bird flu means Hatim and his friends can no longer eat the ducks they catch. Rather the bodies are handed over to the country’s environmental agency for testing, meaning their hunts contribute toward the fight against bird flu in Egypt....

http://www.dailystaregypt.com

[Theresa42]

Re: EGYPT - Jan 9, 2008+

Google-translated from Arabic:

3 girls detained in Alexandria and homemaker in Fayoum well bird flu
Jan 19, 2008

Wrote Yasser Chmis Mona Yassin

Hospital dietary witnessed Alexandria detention 3 young girls from the same family are suspected of positive flu Taio, they: Nihad Mr. Ghani 3 years and her sister Yemeni Mr. Ghani a year and a half uncle and his son peaceful Zaghloul Ghani 4 years.

Dr. Mohamed Al-Shami, Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine at the lake that young symptoms of the disease contracted in the form of high temperature and shortness of breath sample was taken for them to the central Ministry of Health laboratory to verify the authenticity of the disease-positive or not.

In Fayoum, was arrested Hospital Dietetic Fayoum housewives yesterday, on suspicion of being infected with avian influenza, said Dr. Hussein Sophie Abutaleb, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health in Fayyoum governorate, claiming that the infected Samia Idris Eid 40 years housewife from the village of Klmhah Center Team.

This coincided with the success of the Directorate of Veterinary Medicine in Giza Governorate seized 20 cars loaded with movable poultry without a permit transfer, and execution of these birds by health practice in the context of the preservation plan in the face of avian influenza.

Abdullah said Dr Bader, Director of the Directorate of Veterinary Medicine: The cars were seized in cooperation with Supply Investigation was loaded with 10962 b 5800 chickens and ducks were taking legal action over cars seized.

He added that the inspection campaigns launched by the Directorate of places offer and sale of meat resulted during the 10 days past the seizure of 739 chickens unfit for human consumption were destroyed completely by health and environmental Bcbrament, was also edit 70 minutes of the installations that have been seized by the poultry.

The Badr campaigns included reviving Station and the construction, and six Dokki st and cities Warraq and Atfaih and ten and cheese.

http://www.almasry-alyoum.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=90532

[Theresa42]

Re: EGYPT - Jan 9, 2008+

The Shura Council is the upper house of the Egyptian Parliament.

Google-translated

Shura discusses bird flu crisis
Jan 19, 2008

Written by - rose Khalid

Mufid Shehab, Minister of Legal Affairs and the parliamentary assemblies that the Shura Council begins today and held several meetings over four days by a request from 20 members on the bird flu spread and seriousness of the steps taken by the government to face this threat.

Hatem mountain Minister of Health and Population and Amin Abaza, and Minister of Agriculture and Minister Abdel Salam Mahgoub and local development.

http://www.algomhuria.net.eg/almessa...t/detail06.asp [<< not a permalink]

[Theresa42]

Re: EGYPT - Jan 9, 2008+

Google-translated from Arabic:

Attempts to control the influenza virus
Remove 20 1900 chickens in Ain Shams
Damietta made facilities for shops living birds
Jan 19, 2008

Written byMagdi Youssef:

Rear Admiral Ahmed phrases President Al Ain Shams said that the seizure and confiscation of 3 cars carrying 1900 live chickens coming from the Qaliubiya not carrying drivers veterinary certificates.

He was executed 2500 live chickens owners tried to sell the shops closed in secret away from the shops and streets of Muhammad Shalabi Adviser liberation and security Shenouda Museum rain has been removed and 20 nests.

Damietta Nader Amara

D decided in Damietta. Fathi ElBaradei Damietta governor cut electricity and water for shops selling live birds.

Accountant charged Governor Ahmed Hishmat secretary-general of the province prevent the circulation of live bird markets to combat avian influenza.

Lake [Behiera] Hamdi Bakr

On the lake has been close all shops selling live poultry until reconcile their changing activity of the sale and slaughter culled to the sale and purchase of frozen poultry as refrigerators capacity of each place and contracting with the abattoir for the supply of frozen poultry.

Maj. Gen. Abdul Hameed decided Shahat, who doubles as Chairman of the Town and City got gunpowder stop activity 67 poultry farm violation.

Matrouh Mohamed Elsayed

Reserved the Counter Bird Flu Bmatarouh the 1200 chickens Omar 47 days in a farmer north-west coast zone in the km 70 in "Brigadier" Specimens were taken from poultry and contacts and sent to the labs of the Ministry of Health to establish the extent of her illness or not.

The results of medical analysis of the diseased meet Ibrahim Abu ma from the same village 23 draft young graduates negative.

http://www.algomhuria.net.eg/almessa...l/detail05.asp [<< not a permalink]

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: EGYPT - Jan 9, 2008+

Press Release Min of Health 01 19 08

Bird flu rates dropped during second week of January


The Supreme Committee to Combat Bird Flu, in its meeting on 16/1/2008 under Minister of Agriculture Amin Abaza, said bird flu rates among poultry in farms and backyard homes have dropped sharply due to increase of awareness among citizens and intensification of vaccination campaigns.

Spokesman of the Health Ministry, Dr Abdel Rahman Shahin, said Egypt has a modest infection rate compared to world countries.

He cited a World Health Organization's report, which put Egypt amongst the world countries with lowest bird flu infections.

He said 350 people have contracted the H5N1 virus worldwide and 217 have died of bird flu.

In Egypt, 43 caught the virus and 19 people died, he added.

The committee has finished the epidemiological surveillance in five governorates; Dahaklia, Behera, Giza, Fayyoum and Gharbiyah.

Advisor of Health Minister, Dr. Nasr El-Sayed, said that fever hospitals have received a big number of suspected cases during January 2008 due to spread of the seasonal human flu.

Dr. Mona Mehrez, Supervisor of the Central Laboratories of Poultry Monitoring said that 350 samples were checked and the veterinary campaigns have included 9 governorates. The number of participating committees reached 50 ones.

Results of inspection confirmed decrease of number of epicenters in the poultry farms where 11 ones were discovered during the second week of January as compared to 33 epicenters during the first week of the same month.

The results reflect increase of awareness of citizens in addition to the intensification of campaigns to follow up the implementation of the decision prohibiting breeding poultry in homes.

Dr. Shahin said that the Health Ministry has 5.2 million doses of Tamiflu. He said that Egypt has the lowest bird flu mortality.

Dr. Mona denied a rumor that the deadly bird flu could pass on to fish noting that the Health Ministry has imported 3 billion doses of bird vaccines.

19/1/2008

http://birdflu.sis.gov.eg/html/flu01021114.htm

[HenryN]

Re: EGYPT - Jan 9, 2008+

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width=478 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>EGYPT: Avian flu outbreak abating, says government

<TABLE style="BORDER-RIGHT: #bbbbbb 1px solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; BORDER-TOP: #cccccc 1px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; MARGIN: 2px 5px 8px 0px; BORDER-LEFT: #cccccc 1px solid; WIDTH: 120px; PADDING-TOP: 5px; BORDER-BOTTOM: #bbbbbb 1px solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #eeeeee" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 3px" align=right>
Photo: Martina Fuchs/IRIN </TD></TR><TR><TD class=ImgCreditCaption style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Women in Aswan, in southern Egypt, sell live poultry in a local market</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>CAIRO, 21 January 2008 (IRIN) - Egypt?s Supreme Committee to Combat Bird Flu - a government body - said on 19 January that infection rates among poultry in farms and homes had dropped sharply since the second week of January.

It said this was largely due to a public awareness campaign and the intensification of vaccination initiatives.

Last week, Cabinet spokesman Magdi Radi said 60 percent of poultry reared domestically had been vaccinated and that the government was stepping up efforts, especially in rural areas, to complete vaccination of the remaining 40 percent of poultry.

Radi also said epidemiological surveillance had been completed in the governorates of Dahaklia, Behera, Giza, Fayyoum and Gharbiyah.

At the same time, Nasr El-Sayed, an adviser at the Ministry of Health, said that since the beginning of January 2008 fewer suspected human cases of bird flu had been admitted to hospitals.

However, Amany Nakhla, regional planning assistant for avian flu in the Cairo office of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), warned against a slackening in the awareness phase. She said 15 new suspected human cases of bird flu from the Delta area had been under medical surveillance since 16 January.

<TABLE style="BORDER-RIGHT: rgb(187,187,187) 1px solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; BORDER-TOP: rgb(204,204,204) 1px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; MARGIN: 2px 5px 8px 0px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(204,204,204) 1px solid; WIDTH: 180px; PADDING-TOP: 5px; BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(187,187,187) 1px solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(238,238,238)" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 3px" align=right>
Photo: Martina Fuchs/IRIN </TD></TR><TR><TD class=ImgCreditCaption style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">A bird flu awareness poster reading: "Don't touch or get close to dead birds in order not to be infected. Be responsible and join us in the fight against bird flu."</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Intensified media campaign

In stepping up its public awareness campaign on bird flu, the government is cooperating with the World Health Organization (WHO). Zuhair Hallaj, the WHO country representative, said that although the media campaign had been slow in the last year positive steps had been taken in the past few days to improve the communication strategy. "Efforts now focus on convincing people not to handle live birds and to go to hospital early [when suspecting bird flu infection] to decrease the probability of future fatalities", he said.

Abdel Nasser, head of the disease surveillance unit at the Ministry of Health, said he was satisfied the current campaign was working well and that the government had been successful in responding to the current bird flu outbreak in Egypt.

However, the high population density, popular dependence on poultry for income generation and as a source of nutrition, limited slaughter-house capacity, as well as the large number of households keeping poultry in their backyards meant there were many challenges to the successful control of the virus.

Nasser said, for example, that it was difficult to convince people to have their poultry vaccinated. "Many people still refuse the inoculation and culling of birds so we need a lot of human resources and teams to move from house to house to look for the [domestically reared] birds," he said.

According to current government measures all farms proven infected with the bird flu virus are shut down for a period of six months and all birds and farm wastes on the farms are destroyed. The government further prohibits moving poultry from one governorate to another or from one farm to another without permission. Farm owners who do not abide by these regulations face a penalty.

<TABLE style="BORDER-RIGHT: rgb(187,187,187) 1px solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; BORDER-TOP: rgb(204,204,204) 1px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; MARGIN: 2px 5px 8px 0px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(204,204,204) 1px solid; WIDTH: 180px; PADDING-TOP: 5px; BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(187,187,187) 1px solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(238,238,238)" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 3px" align=right>
Photo: Martina Fuchs/IRIN </TD></TR><TR><TD class=ImgCreditCaption style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Chicken remains hugely popular in Egypt as a source of nutrition</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Ibrahim Kerdany, WHO spokesman for the Eastern Mediterranean region, said the media campaigns were channelled through traditional media outlets (newspapers, TV and radio) in the affected and high-risk governorates, and especially through media centres affiliated to Egypt's State Information Service (SIS).

So far, according to SIS, the government has issued about 250,000 bulletins about bird flu and how one can protect oneself against it. In addition, half a million fact sheets have been distributed to students to raise awareness about the bird-flu issue, the reasons of infection and possible ways of protection.

According to Kerdany, a similar media campaign has also been launched in Saudi Arabia.

Since the H5N1 virus was first detected in humans in Egypt in February 2006, 43 people have been infected with the virus throughout the country and 19 of them have died.

mf/ar/cb
</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>
http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=76341</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[Theresa42]

Re: EGYPT - Jan 9, 2008+

For those following the weather in Egypt...

Google-translated from Arabic:

Severe cold wave .. Hit country
Killing frost crops Sinai .. And 300 blankets to students Assiut
Jan 21, 2008

Severe cold wave prevailed all over the country .. As torrential rains heavily on the New Valley for 6 hours continuously.

North Sinai Mohammad Atiya:

The cold wave has led to the deaths of crops in northern Sinai .. The agricultural experts that frost impact on the 80% of the crop tomatoes, peppers and dreams and courgettes are subject.

Farmers said that the cost of about feddan thousand pounds .. These debts to the banks and seed and fertilizer dealers .. Not knowing what to do after planting combustion.

Assiut Mahmoud Wagdi:

On a good tradition and the new .. Assiut University distributed 300 blankets to students residing outside the university hostels to meet colder air.

D said. Izzat Abdullah Assiut University President: that the university allocated 300 thousand pounds to help students who are unable to pay fees and buy books and memoirs.

New Valley honor Ghraib:

Torrential rains heavily throughout the day for a period of 6 hours non-stop on some of the cities and villages of New Valley, which led to the accumulation of water streets.

The governor, Major General Ahmed Mukhtar valley formation of the new emergency operations room to monitor the security situation throughout the province.

The local units lifting water from the streets and raising the status of preparedness maximum relief for fear of collapse of brick houses milk.

http://www.algomhuria.net.eg/almessa...t/detail03.asp [<< not a permalink]

[Theresa42]

Re: EGYPT - Jan 9, 2008+

Google-translated from Arabic:

3 people detained Bhmyat Shebin and Mahala .. On suspicion of bird flu infection
Jan 21, 2008

West [Gharbiyah] - the Abu Dashic:

Detained Hospital Dietetic Mahala Zeinab Mohamed on suspicion of being infected with avian influenza .. been sampling blood and the appearance of the throat to be sent to central laboratories to make sure her or not.

Menoufiya - Gaffar out:

Detained Hospital Dietetic Shebin Mound Sabha Ibrahim Eid "homemaker" and Imad Abdul Latif 5 years on suspicion of avian influenza virus injured .. Been taking a sample of blood, the injured and sent to the central laboratories of the Ministry of Health in Cairo for analysis.

http://www.algomhuria.net.eg/almessa...l/detail06.asp (<< not a permalink)

[Theresa42]

Re: EGYPT - Jan 9, 2008+

New suspected case in Dakahlia -- the suspected case in Gharbiyah reported above. Also, some (new?) negatives reported from Gharbiyah (no names).

Google-translated from Arabic:

Increasing cases of suspected bird flu in western [Gharbiyah] and Dakahlia
Jan 21, 2008

Tanta [in Gharbiyah] Atef Debis: Mansoura [in Dakahlia] Azza Fahmy:

Detained by the Directorate of Health heat yesterday Zeinab Ahmed Hamed 52 years Hospital Dietetic Mahala [Gharbiyah] suspicion of being infected with bird flu, raising the number of cases withheld for 8 suspected cases Bhmyat Mahala, Tanta and vegetables, awaiting the arrival of sample results [in Gharbiyah]. Dr. Sharif Hammouda Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health maintaining negative 23 cases of bird flu, after the arrival of sample results.

And Eng Corner governor of the West [Gharbiyah] intensified campaigns on the market and shantytown homes and farms to make sure there are no animals dead or alive markets.

As was the case yesterday, the detention of suspected new bird flu Hospital issued Mansoura [in Dakahlia]. She developed symptoms on Ahmed Ibrahim Abdel Raouf 25 years a working farm village of dead poultry Khouli status Monia victory, has been detained inside the hospital chest and pulled a sample for analysis labs with the Ministry of Health to ensure that the virus infection or not.

The committees were competent Dakahlia governorate had executed 1421 Bird recently centres Mansoura Wagga.

On the other hand, Dakahlia governor Ahmed Sawan importance of activating activity awareness among the citizens and ways of dealing with the birds to avoid injury and the governor issued a decision to close a number of shops selling birds cow Monia mmas tower and chickpeas and Srjt Noor of the Centre for Agen.

As governor decided that the closure of shops selling live birds and cleaning.

http://www.alwafd.org/v3/News/NewsDetail.php?id=1072&type=local&PHPSESSID=f81c1f156a84c671da67b1ce718f8d28

[Theresa42]

Re: EGYPT - Jan 9, 2008+

Some suspected cases from Gharbiyah governorate -- plus 18 negatives (also from Gharbiyah?). Also, outbreak on a poultry farm in Gharbiyah...

Google-translated from Arabic:

Epicentre of a new avian influenza Bzfti
Jan 22, 2008

Tanta [Gharbiyah] Atef Debis: Proven factor Ministry of Agriculture positive samples from poultry farm village Vrciss of the Centre Residence Card 10 thousand chickens. Turning teams of veterinary medicine to deal with the dead birds and buried in accordance with the requirements established health and the execution of all birds within a half kilometres from the epicentre of injury. Dr. Sharif Hammouda Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health had been detained story of Ahmad Taher 18 years (vegetable vendor).

And greetings Abu migration (housewives), 24-year Bhmyat Mahala, Iman Abd 26 years village of Mit Sudan Bhmyat Tanta on suspicion Basapthm bird flu, while results revealed the Ministry of Health 18 injured patients from suspects reporting avian influenza and Torteurkrugem from the hospital after their condition improved [i.e. 18 negatives].

http://www.alwafd.org/v3/News/NewsDetail.php?id=1084&type=local&PHPSESSID=aeac4eeb4805d923695b7376888bd5bb