The bird flu continues

Turkey has increased the destruction of poultry across the territory after an additional baby girl suspected of being infected with bird flu died and her brother is in danger because of H5N1.

Fatma Ozcan's mother

The Fatma Ozcan girl used to be exposed to sick chickens, but the initial test results showed no trace of the H5N1 virus. This fact is not enough to convince professionals and people are waiting for the final conclusion in a few days.

"I was hospitalized too late. Despite being treated as early as bird flu, the situation got worse," said Dr. Huseyin Avni Sahin. Five days ago, his 5-year-old brother was hospitalized and was in an emergency. Both are exposed to poultry and may have eaten chicken sick.

Earlier, Turkey had 3 children and one family died one by one from bird flu. Currently, the H5N1 virus appears in more than a third of the country, especially in villages along the migratory bird route from Istanbul and European "gateways" to Van city near the Iranian and Iraqi border. Turkey destroyed nearly 600,000 poultry to control the crisis.

The United States sent a team of experts to Turkey to assess the situation, in conjunction with the experts of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Food and Agriculture Organization are here. WHO believes that bird flu victims have been infected with viruses so far mainly because of direct contact with sick chickens. Young children often play with birds or participate in slaughtering and eating poultry.

Before the epidemic crisis in Turkey, neighboring Iran has destroyed nearly 120,000 poultry in 239 villages along the border. The country has banned the import of poultry and advised people not to go to the epidemic. 10 lakes and rivers in Iran are alarmed red in fear of outbreaks of migratory birds.

Experts continue to warn that the H5N1 virus will be "more active" in cold months and at risk of spreading in East Asia when people slaughter poultry preparing for the Lunar New Year.

My Linh (according to Reuters)