24.02.2006

A Supreme National Committee, headed by Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, was immediately formed to formulate and execute plans to control the spread of the avian influenza virus. The committee, which includes the ministers of health, agriculture, environment, defense and interior, moved quickly to ban the transport of fowl and urged poultry outlets, as well as the estimated two million people who raise chickens on their rooftops, to cull all birds. As promises of compensation for losses were made, the government decided to buy all healthy stock reared by farmers until 25 March, in a bid to curb the losses of hard hit farms.
For the first time since being founded in 1891 the Cairo Zoo closed its gates on Monday (20/02) and will remain shut for at least two weeks. Eighty-three birds are reported to have died at the zoo and a further 563 birds have been slaughtered. All ponds in the zoo have been drained.
Many took matters into their own hands, throwing dead birds in streets, garbage cans and alarmingly - the Nile.
When, on Tuesday, a satellite channel carried reports that drinking water had been contaminated with the virus due to dead birds being dumped in the river Nile panic spread like a bushfire. Many stores ran out of mineral water, and the panic buying continued even after the irrigation minister appeared on television to announce that drinking water was safe and, to prove the point, drank a glass of water before the cameras.