President Hosni Mubarak is following up measures taken by the government to contain the bird flu virus. Egypt has in all transparency announced the emergence of flu cases and has set up an operations room in the Cabinet with all ministries, governors and with experts from Ministries of Agriculture and Health participating.

All executive bodies are working in tandem with the World Health Organization (WHO) to contain the lethal H5N1 virus before it reaches humans.

The WHO spokesman has declared that Egypt's announcement of the emergence of avian flu cases among its poultry population is a first step towards containing the fatal disease.

Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Nazif has reiterated that a plan has been set in motion whereby avian flu would be brought under control.

Al-Akhbar
February 20, 2006