Bird Flu Claims Two Lives, Turkey

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Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 05 Jan 2006 - 18:00 PDT

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According to Turkish authorities, a teenage girl, Fatma Kocyigit, 15, has died of Bird Flu (avian influenza). Her brother, Mehmet Ali Kocyigit, 14, also died of bird flu. When the H5N1 bird flu strain infection is confirmed (most likely), these will be the first cases of human deaths from bird flu outside east Asia.

Turkish authorities say initial tests, carried out in Turkey, have indicated the victims were infected with the H5N1 strain. Further tests are being carried out in Great Britain.

The H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus is the most virulent (dangerous, potent) one. Over 70 people in east Asia have died as a result of H5N1 infection (out of a total of around 150 infected humans).

As the incidence of human infection of bird flu spreads geographically, experts say it is only a question of time before the virus learns how to spread rapidly among humans.

At the moment, bird flu is not easy for human to catch. Over 100 million birds have died of bird flu over the last three years, and only about 70 humans. However, if the H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus manages to infect a human who has the normal flu, it could exchange genetic information with the human flu virus and learn how to spread rapidly from human-to-human. When this happens, humankind may be facing a global pandemic.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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