By Daisy Ayliffe - 5th January 2006
The deadly bird flu virus arrived at the threshold of Europe on Wednesday as Turkey reported two avian-influenza deaths.
Tests on a teenage boy who died on January 1 indicated infection from avian flu, Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag confirmed.
The boy’s older sister died of the virus the following day.
Seven more people, including five children and two adults, were hospitalized in eastern Turkey with suspected bird flu, potentially adding to the 142 cases confirmed in Asia the past two years.
Addressing journalists on Thursday, a European Commission spokesman said Brussels has sent experts to liaise with the Turkish authorities.
But while officials can confirm the arrival of the deadly bird flu it remains uncertain precisely what strain of the virus they are dealing with.
The EU is currently analyzing samples from both the human victims and dead birds for the presence of the H5N1 strain.
H5N1 has been closely monitored amid fears that it could mutate into a form easily passed between people and cause a pandemic.
Test results are due to be released in the “coming days” a commission spokesman told reporters on Thursday.
Turkey has conducted a cull of birds to try to prevent the transmission to human beings.
The country, which lies on the path of migratory birds that are thought to spread the virus, has suffered two outbreaks of the highly contagious disease among poultry in the past three months.
“There has been a complete ban on imports form Turkey since October 2005. The commission is confident that the food safety measures in place are sufficient,” a spokesman explained.
“But it is up to member states to advise their citizens on how safe they believe it is to travel to Turkey,” he added.
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.