FAO confirms Egypt free from Tilapia lake virus: Minister

CAIRO - 5 August 2017: Egypt is free from the Tilapia lake virus (TiLV), and contacts and meetings with the regional representative of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) proved that reports on the presence of the disease in the country were based on an unaccredited research, the agriculture minister said on Tuesday.

Only the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) is entitled to declare the presence of such diseases after coordination with the Egyptian government, Abdel Moneim el Bana said in statements.

The FAO representative came to the ministry and asserted the Rome-based organization will be addressed to clarify recent Saudi measures do not mean that the disease has existence in Egypt, he said.