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H5N1 Wild Bird Flu Spread To Turkey?
Recombinomics Commentary
October 8, 2005
Turkish authorities have killed more than 2,000 turkeys in suspicion of having the avian flu strain, CNN Turk reported.
The reported cases were identified in the province Balikesir, to the north-west of Turkey, the district governor Halil Yavuz Kaya was quoted as saying.
Turkey producers in the region of Manyas have been put under quarantine
Balikesir's governor said this is just an isolated case of infection through the migratory birds and that all precautionary measures have been taken.
The above comments suggest that H5N1 wild bird flu has spread to Turkey. The timing and location of the outbreak (see map) suggest it too is H5N1 wild bird flu spread by birds migrating into the area from southern Siberia. The infections in Romania have spread rapidly. There are dead birds in 7 villages and several species, including ducks, geese, and swans, which strongly suggests the infections are from the H5N1 version circulation in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia which has the unusual property of causing fatal infections in water fowl.
Although H5N1 has never been previously reported in Romania or Turkey, it seems likely that the H5N1 will spread to most or all countries in the region, as H5N1 greatly expands its geographical reach.
Map
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