10/3/2006
Markos Kyprianou visits Egypt to discuss avian influenza

Markos Kyprianou, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, will visit Egypt from 11-14 March. During his time in there, the Commissioner will meet with Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, Health Minister Hatem El Gabaly and Minister of Agriculture Amin Abazza, amongst others. A key topic for discussion will be current outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, both in Egypt and globally.

The first cases of H5N1 avian influenza were reported in Egypt on 17 February, and since then the disease has spread within the country, mostly among backyard poultry. The result has been that over 3.2 million birds have had to be culled so far in Egypt, due to avian influenza outbreaks.

Mr Kyprianou will receive an update on the avian influenza situation from the national authorities and discuss ways in which the EU could assist the Egyptians in their efforts to tackle the disease.

Speaking before his visit, Commissioner Kyprianou said, "Egypt is faced with a very difficult challenge in its battle against this virulent disease, and the EU will do anything that it can to help. The EU wishes to assist Egypt in this battle, to help control the disease on the ground and also because Egypt is on the route of migratory birds returning from Africa through Eastern Europe. We need to put all our energies into containing and controlling avian influenza, and into trying to prevent it from spreading further, whether in Europe, Africa, Asia or elsewhere."