The Egyptian head of veterinarian services, Osama Selim, announced on Thursday that Egypt has a new plan for 2011-2012 to combat the avian flu virus.

The plan will seek to control the spread of the virus. It will encourage major poultry breeders to sell at low prices frozen poultry to encourage people not to purchase livestock. The plan also includes launching a public awareness campaign in the media to discourage farmers to breed poultry inside their homes and explain the risks this poses to their family.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), of the 149 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 51 have been fatal. The most recent cases were five announced in May by Egypt’s Ministry of Health, of whom three died.

Egypt is rated by the WHO as having one of the highest infection rates of avian flu.