Syria’s poultry sector has seen a wave of bird deaths, raising questions about the viral diseases spreading among flocks and whether they pose a public health risk, amid rumors of human transmission.
As part of scientific and field follow-up of these cases, the Ministry of Health, along with academic and professional bodies, issued clarifications on the infections being observed, stressing that local products remain safe for human consumption.
Field confirmations, poultry farms under strain
Veterinarian Mortada Hassan Reda told Enab Baladi, based on field inspections, that there are clear infections in chicken flocks.
He said poultry farms in Syria are facing a surge in viral diseases that has led to noticeable mortality, but reassured consumers that the diseases currently affecting birds are not transmissible to humans as a public health risk.
On the most widely discussed disease, Reda said Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly virulent viral disease in birds, but human infection is extremely rare.
He added that in rare cases, infection is generally limited to people with the closest contact with infected birds, such as poultry farm workers or veterinarians.
Reda said human infection with Newcastle disease is typically limited to mild conjunctivitis, a treatable symptom that poses no health danger, adding, “There is absolutely no reason to be afraid, it is very simple for humans.”
Health Ministry denies rumors
In an official statement issued on Feb. 10, 2026, the Ministry of Health denied circulating claims about a “deadly disease” that can be transmitted to humans through poultry, saying posts attributed to the ministry on this matter are inaccurate.
The ministry noted that monitoring and announcing animal diseases falls under the remit of the Directorate of Animal Health and Production at the Ministry of Agriculture, as long as the cases are not classified as zoonotic. It also urged citizens to rely only on official sources.
“Unjustified boycott”
Veterinary medicine faculties and union bodies in Hama (central Syria) said farms are free of avian influenza strains H7 and H9, the only strains that raise international concern as zoonotic.
They said the viruses currently being observed, such as Gumboro (infectious bursal disease, IBD) and infectious hepatitis (IBH), are known in the region and are handled through vaccination programs.
Specialists warned that spreading rumors about risks to human consumption harms an already strained national economy and leads to an unjustified boycott of local products. They stressed that poultry meat and eggs are safe for human consumption as long as proper cooking and storage rules are followed.
Fadel Haj Hashem, Director General of the General Poultry Establishment, told Syria’s state news agency SANA that claims circulating on social media about serious diseases being transmitted to humans are “baseless.”
He said the establishment applies strict isolation and prevention protocols as soon as any outbreak is detected, stressing that the health situation in the poultry sector remains within normal limits and does not warrant panic.
Recommendations for consumers and breeders
The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Hama urged citizens to follow guidance to ease concerns and ensure food safety, including thorough cooking at high temperatures, which eliminates viral activity. It also emphasized proper refrigeration and storage conditions.
Reda urged breeders to strictly follow vaccination schedules, rely on scientific and professional sources for diagnosis, and avoid medicines of unknown origin.
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