In a press statement yesterday, "Veterinarians without Borders" group said Egypt has not completely executed all pigs, as more than 150,000 pigs are still alive. For its part, the General Authority for Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Agriculture said the number of pigs that have not been executed is only 11,282 in Helwan governorate.
Sami Taha, the group's spokesman, said a recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) warned against the spread of swine flu in countries with high population density, especially Egypt.
Taha, member of the Veterinary Medical Association, stressed that the disease would not be eradicated by the establishment of mass graves for pigs. Therefore, there should be block walls in the areas of health and veterinary quarantine. In addition, Egypt should not import live animals. It should deal with the Suez Canal and the border strip with Israel as "two red lines". The WHO report stressed the need to rely on Abbasiyah Laboratory for Veterinary Vaccine Production because its scientists managed to produce a local anti-avian flu medicine. It stressed the importance of making it incumbent upon more than 5,000 doctors to work on farms and to preserve the safety of poultry and animals in general.
For his part, head of the General Authority for Veterinary Services Hamid Samaha said 13,955 pigs were executed nationwide during the period from April 30 to May 25 and the remaining number is 11,282 pigs in Helwan governorate.
