Social media users in Egypt circulated reports claiming that 30% of poultry had died due to a “deadly epidemic,” causing widespread concern and debate. This prompted a firm denial from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The controversy over the poultry epidemic situation in Egypt arose following statements made by Tharwat El-Zeiny, Deputy Head of the General Federation of Poultry Producers, who confirmed the presence of an epidemic virus and reported the death of 30% of the country’s poultry stock.
Ministry of Agriculture Sets the Record Straight
The Ministry’s spokesperson, Mohamed Al-Qursh, told Sky News Arabia in an exclusive statement that claims of large-scale poultry deaths or an epidemic situation in Egypt are inaccurate.
He added that conditions at poultry farms across Egypt are stable, with mortality rates at very natural levels due to recent weather changes. He emphasized that the government is highly committed to meeting citizens’ needs and boosting production, especially in the poultry sector, which is witnessing significant development.
Al-Qursh also pointed out that Egypt enjoys a high degree of self-sufficiency in poultry production.
Poultry Mortality Rates Are “Normal”
Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture, Alaa Farouk, stated in a media interview that rumors of a deadly poultry epidemic in Egypt are completely false. He explained that seasonal mortality rates due to climatic changes at this time of year do not exceed 3% to 6%, which is internationally recognized as normal.
He clarified that these rates apply to open farms that have not yet modernized their systems. He further noted that Egypt has over 27,000 farms, and the claim that 30% of poultry production died would imply the loss of production from approximately 8,000 farms, which he said is inaccurate and exaggerated.
Minister Farouk also mentioned that Egypt’s annual poultry production reaches about 1.55 billion birds, covering 98% of the domestic market’s needs.
In the same context, Mahmoud Al-Anani, Head of the General Federation of Poultry Producers, denied the statements made by his deputy and affirmed that they have no basis. He noted that Egypt has many farms of varying sizes, which sometimes experience mortality cases due to weather fluctuations, similar to last year. He added that the Ministry of Agriculture has allocated a budget to test samples from farms facing issues.

Source: www.skynewsarabia.com