Human and animal health are increasingly interlinked, with more than 75% of all new, emerging, or re-emerging human diseases originating from animals. The first human case of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Egypt was diagnosed in February 2006. Egypt declared the disease endemic in 2008 with more than 350 human cases (42 percent of the global total) and 120 fatalities (26 percent of the global total). Avian influenza continues to threaten Egypt’s poultry industry and is a public health risk with pandemic potential. Outbreaks in both commercial poultry farms and households are regularly reported, and occasionally humans are infected when in close contact with sick birds.

Over the past 15 years, USAID has invested more than $40 million to support the Government of Egypt’s efforts to prevent and control avian influenza. Support is currently provided through USAID’s Global Health Security and Development program, which seeks to reduce the risk of human exposure by reducing infections in poultry. As a result of this activity, the number of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza cases, which pose the greatest risk to humans, decreased from 40 (with 16 fatalities) in 2011 to three cases (with no fatalities) in 2017. No new cases of the disease were reported in 2018 and 2019. Additionally, the time of confirmatory diagnosis for a human case of avian influenza in Egypt has decreased from several days to less than six hours.  

Implementing Partner: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; Life of Project: February 2015 – December 2020; Total Estimated Cost: $6.2 million; Governorates: Conducted at the national level in partnership with the General Organization of Veterinary Services/Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation