EU: Turkey's Bird Flu Dangerous to Humans
October 13, 2005
The European Commission announced Thursday that the aggressive H5N1 virus had been detected in Turkish cases.
"The virus found in Turkey is avian flu H5N1 high pathogenic virus," EU Health and Consumer Protection chief Markos Kyprianou told a news conference.
It is not yet clear whether Romanian birds also have the H5N1 strain or a less aggressive strain. Romania's chief veterinarian, Ion Agafitei, said that three ducks have been infected with the H5 virus, according to Reuters.
The confirmation from Romania comes after the EU Commission stated on Wednesday that the opposite was the case. The EU announced a ban on imports of poultry from the country Thursday morning.
Results expected Friday
Over the weekend, the H5 virus was discovered in poultry in Turkey, and on Monday the EU introduced a ban on Turkish poultry imports. A sample from the infected birds was sent to a British lab, which examined whether they have been infected with the H5N1 strain. Romania is expected to send a sample to the same lab to determine the strain.
The village where the virus was found in Romania, Ceamurlia de Jos, not far from the Black Sea, has been put under quarantine and the authorities there have begun to slaughter birds in the village to contain the virus. Romania has already culled tens of thousands of fowl and authorities announced Thursday plans to slaughter thousands more.
In Asia, over 60 people have died after being infected with the H5N1 strain of avian influenza and millions of birds have been slaughtered since the virus was first detected in 2003.