The meeting will be headed by Health Minister Hatem El-Gabali and will include the Agriculture Minister El-Sayed Amin Abaza, Environment Minister Maged George, Local Development Minister Abdel Salam Mahgoub, and several bird flu experts.

The three-year plan has been designed by the General Authority for Veterinary Services and the Animal Health Research Institute, a report on Ahram Online says.

The report says the meeting will aim to set out a concrete action schedule for all those involved and it will include forcing farm owners to dispose of dead birds daily by burning, burial, or compost and to immediately report any cases as well as notifying veterinary units of the immunisation schedule so that they can follow up on it.

The plan includes a focus on immunisation in 16 governorates that are known for having high infection rates, the report says.