Turkey Intensifies Poultry Culling Nationwide After Another Girl Dies from Suspected Bird Flu and Her Brother is in Critical Condition Due to H5N1.
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Mother of Fatma Ozcan |
Five-year-old Fatma Ozcan had contact with sick chickens, but initial test results did not show traces of the H5N1 virus. This fact has not satisfied experts, who are awaiting final conclusions in the coming days.
“She was admitted to the hospital too late. Although she was treated immediately as a bird flu case, her condition worsened,” said Dr. Huseyin Avni Sahin, who is directly handling the case. Five days prior, her 5-year-old brother was also hospitalized and is currently in critical condition. Both had contact with poultry and may have consumed sick chicken.
Previously, Turkey had three children from the same family die from bird flu. Currently, the H5N1 virus is present in one-third of the country, particularly in villages along the migratory bird routes from Istanbul and the “gateways” to Europe to the city of Van near the Iran and Iraq borders. Turkey has culled nearly 600,000 poultry to control the crisis.
The United States has sent a team of experts to Turkey to assess the situation, in collaboration with experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization, who are already on the ground. The WHO believes that previous bird flu victims were primarily infected through direct contact with sick chickens. Young children often play with birds or participate in the slaughter and consumption of poultry.
In light of the disease crisis in Turkey, neighboring Iran has recently culled nearly 120,000 poultry in 239 villages along the border. The country has banned poultry imports and advised residents to avoid outbreak areas. Ten rivers and lakes in Iran have been put on red alert due to concerns about the spread of the disease from migratory birds.
Experts continue to warn that the H5N1 virus will be “more active” in the colder months and poses a risk of spreading in East Asia as people slaughter poultry in preparation for the Lunar New Year.
My Linh (according to Reuters)
