Brussels, 16/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, Markos Kyprianou, visited Egypt on 11-14 March where he met the Prime Minister, Health and Agriculture Ministers with whom he discussed the repercussions of avian flu. The first cases were detected in Egypt on 17 February. The country is on the migratory route of birds and therefore is facing “great difficulties”, according to Mr Kyprianou, who was informed of the “very serious” situation. Cases have been detected in 15 regions and which also affect chicken battery farms that have lost 3.5 million in livestock to the slaughterhouses. One of the rare reassuring factors is that there has so far not been any human contamination despite the “aggravated risk” of chickens generally being sold live on the markets and then being killed and plumed later. As well as health concerns, the Egyptian government explained the social consequences of a business that employs almost 2 million people. Chicken meat consumption is considered as a relatively important source of protein in the Egyptian diet. Kyprianou was informed of the setting up of a High Committee bringing together agriculture, health, defence and environment ministers responsible for coordinating action on the ground and directing international aid requested by the country. The EU will indirectly contribute through the UN. In January in Peking it announced that an international organisation would be able to help, which would receive funding of EUR 50 million, around 15 million of which is planned for the Middle East.