February 27, 2006

Egypt to import more frozen meat

Egypt will make it easier to import frozen meat to stem rising prices due to consumers' aversion to chicken following cases of bird flu, the Trade and Industry Ministry said on Saturday.

Many Egyptians are angered that meat prices have increased as much as 20 percent while prices of fish has risen 40 percent, market sources said.

Poultry previously represented 60 to 70 percent of Egypt's meat diet.  Many Egyptians were taken aback by the outbreak of bird flu which has been found in 13 of Egypt's 26 governorates.

Many are in a state of panic. Hotlines for bird flu advice have been flooded with calls and there were raging rumours the Nile river had been contaminated with the virus.

Some breeders had even been releasing their stock into the streets causing panic.

The government has said the disease is under control and has set up daily environment patrols around greater Cairo to check for bird flu.