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Three Suspect H5N1 Children Hospitalized in Manisa Turkey
Recombinomics Commentary
February 23, 2006
3 Children in Manisa have been hospitalized at Celal Bayar University with BF suspicion.
In Manisa's Golmarmara region's Kayaalti village, Z.E (10), D.A (6) and H.A (9), who have had close contact with poultry, were taken to the hospital by the officials who were disinfecting the village when they fell ill.
Pr. Dr. Ayrin Isisag said that the childrens' health were in good condition and samples were sent to be tested to Ankara.
The above translation indicates suspected bird flu cases are being reported once again in Turkey. These three patients are from western Turkey, near reported H5N1 bird infections in Greece and Bulgaria. It is not clear if the infections are related to the large increase in H5N1 reports throughout Europe and the Middle East.
A geographical cluster of three patients is cause for concern. More information on symptoms and possible relationship between D.A. and H.A. would be useful.
Currently there are 21 H5N1 confirmed cases in Turkey, although only 12 have been confirmed by Weybridge. The specifics of these discrepancies remains unclear, as does the status of siblings of H5N1 confirmed patents. Many of these siblings had initially tested negative, including the youngest of the original four siblings.
These patients should have detectable H5N1 antibodies at this time, if they were infected by H5N1. Similarly, contacts should also have antibodies. WHO had attesting program in Turkey to screen contacts for H5N1 antibodies. Details on these tests and the newly admitted patients would be useful.
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