Turkey slaughtered more poultry on Tuesday to combat a bird flu outbreak amid warnings that the killer virus could spread, a prospect that has caused neighboring countries and the EU to block bird exports. So far, an estimated 6,000 birds have been killed in the quarantined area around the turkey farm where the first bird flu case was confirmed. Overall, another 550,000 birds are being checked in farms within a few mile radius.
Turkish experts have said that samples from infected animals tested positive for the H5 virus, but it is not yet known whether it is the H5N1 strain (yes it is! - now confirmed by EU testing), seen as particularly dangerous. The H5N1 virus has mainly been found in 10 Southeast Asian countries and has so far infected 112 people, of whom more than 60 have died, according to the World Health Organization.
Scientists have warned that millions of people around the world could die if the virus crosses with human flu strains to become a lethal and highly contagious new disease. However, It is rare for people to contract bird flu, and most cases have occurred in poultry workers.
Unfortunately, if a pandemic emerges in the coming year, there will not be enough supplies of drugs or vaccines to stop it. World leaders have been stepping up their efforts to battle avian influenza in recent weeks. Will they prevail? I am sure we will hear a lot more on this subject!
