President Hosni Mubarak is closely following up the measures being taken to confront the threat of bird flu.

The government announced in full transparency the number of bird flu cases and began serious action to confront the threat in order to make sure that no human infections will happen.

The government is also coordinating stands with World Health Organization (WHO) and a state of emergency has been declared in hospitals so as to provide necessary healthcare to any suspected cases.

Bird flu threatens Egypt's poultry industry that provides jobs for some 5 million people.Investments in that sector are estimated at LE 18 bn. Therefore, the government is required to do what it can to protect this national industry and should also pay compensations to the citizens who have suffered as a result of the pandemic.

Al-Akhbar
February 20, 2006