Turks calm and positive in dealing with bird flu outbreak

The positive response on the part of the Turkish authorities to the outbreak of avian flu has been commended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The virus has caused two deaths there so far and WHO is calling for people there to remain calm.

Dr Marc Danzon, WHO regional director for Europe, says the worse thing is a panic situation and at present there is no reason for panic.

He was speaking with Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag at a news conference in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

The WHO is investigating why the virus has spread so rapidly in Turkey.

Apart from the deaths of two children, another 13 are in hospital.

These are first deaths to occur outside South East Asia, where more than 70 have died since 2003.

According to Danzon there are no signs that the deadly strain was being transmitted person to person, but health experts have been warning since the start of the outbreak in 2003, of the possibility that H5N1 could mutate and be easily transmitted between people, triggering a pandemic.

The UN's Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), has warned that should the highly pathogenic avian bird flu become endemic in Turkey, it would pose a serious risk to neighbouring countries.

They are calling on neighbouring countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iraq, Iran and Syria to be on high alert, and to apply surveillance and control measures and ensure the public is fully informed about the virus.

FAO health officer Juan Lubroth speaking from the organisation's headquarters in Rome, says that much more human and animal exposure to the virus will occur if strict containment does not isolate all known and unknown locations where the virus is currently present.

The FAO has sent a team to Turkey to help in efforts to control the virus.

As a precautionary measure Turkey's government has ordered more than 300,000 fowl destroyed and is also considering a regional or even national cull of birds in order to contain the virus.

A television campaign is cautioning people not to touch birds, and urging people to wash their hands and clothes after contact with poultry.

Authorities are also distributing leaflets in the eastern regions most affected by the outbreak.

It has been reported that teams with loud hailers have been touring villages in the east telling people to give up their chickens, ducks, turkey and geese or else face fines of up to 100 New Turkish Lira (YTL), (US $74).

Support by the poor people in the rural region is being fostered by compensatory payments of up to 15 YTL ($11) for every bird destroyed.

According to health officials most of the 70 or so people hospitalised with flu-like symptoms have tested negative for bird flu.

Authorities in Europe meanwhile are taking on board the FAO warnings and many European countries have already banned imports of feathers, poultry products and live birds from Turkey.

Apparently epidemiologists from EU member states are to meet on Thursday in Luxembourg to review the spread of the virus.

The European Commission says it is extending its monitoring of wild birds and poultry until the end of the year and is prepared to contribute up to $2.4 million to fund bird flu laboratory testing.