Four People Infected With Bird Flu In Turkey, Perhaps Many More

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Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 08 Jan 2006 - 6:00 PDT

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Health authorities in Turkey have announced that a further two humans are also infected with the H5N1 Bird Flu virus strain, bringing the total confirmed number to four. The first two being fatal - two siblings. The two new cases are a child of five and another one of eight - they are both in hospital.

The confirmation comes after tests were carried out in a laboratory in the United Kingdom.

A twelve-year old sister of the two siblings who died of bird flu has also died (on January 6th). Lab tests are pending on whether she was also infected with the H5N1 strain. Their brother, aged six, is in hospital, tests on whether he also has bird flu have been carried out and the results should come soon.

In the Van province (Turkey), 30 patients, mostly children, are being treated for bird flu-like symptoms. Samples have been taken and sent to labs to evaluate for possible H5N1 infection. Most of these patients come from Dogubayazit.

Bad weather has delayed the transportation of an international team of experts to Van Province. Turkish authorities are helping in finding a swift mode of transport for the team to the affected zone.

Experts say is looks like infection took place as a result of close contact with infected poultry. As the weather in eastern Turkey has got colder, many people have brought their poultry into their homes. The H5N1 virus can survive for well over one month in temperatures as low as 4 centigrade (celcius).

Turkish authorities have confirmed that H5N1 outbreaks have occurred in six provinces (birds infected) - all of them in the east and south-east of the country. There may also be more provinces (still under investigation).

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