Turkish Ministry Reports Avian Flu Eastern Province

Text of report by Turkish NTV television’s NTV Online website on 27 December, subheading as published

A case of Avian Flu (fowl plague) has reportedly been identified in [eastern Turkey] Igdir province’s Aralik district.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Village Affairs notes that the deaths of chickens in the Kopruler neighbourhood of Aralik district have been reported in the past few days.

The statement noted that preliminary investigations were carried out on site by the local organization with samples sent to the appropriate labs for a more detailed analysis so as to determine the cause of death. As a precautionary measure a temporary cordon and quarantine was then put into effect.

In the statement it said that taking into consideration the risk of contamination some 359 birds were destroyed. The report also noted that the lab tests identified the cause of death as avian influenza A virus type H5 on 26 December and that the temporary measures that had been applied were immediately upgraded to permanent. The statement reads:

“Working in coordination with central and local units all precautions have been taken. In accordance with our international obligations the disease will be notified to health organizations (OIE and EU) and to neighbouring countries. Samples will be sent to the EU reference laboratory for a laboratory confirmation and to identify the genetic makeup. It is presumed that the source of the disease could be migrating birds coming in from the Caucasus.”

No integrated facilities in region

The statement noted that there were no integrated facilities in the region where the case of avian flu had been identified and that the poultry there was bred solely for human consumption. “As the necessary quarantine precautions were implements before a confirmed diagnosis was made there is no risk to commercial meat and egg facilities or to public health,” read the statement.