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January 9, 2006
Turkey: Transportation Of Eid Sacrificial Animals May Spread Bird Flu
Today's Turkish Daily News states that the transporting of animals to be sacrificed for the imminent Muslim Feast of the Sacrifice may accelerate the spread of bird flu, experts warned on Saturday.
Gencay Gursoy, head of Istanbul's Doctors' Chamber, said that though sheep and cattle do not succumb to the disease, caused by virus H5N1, if they have lived in close proximity with infected birds, the virus could be carried on their skin or feet.
He particularly warned against transportation of animals from the east and southeast. It was in the east, near the Iraqi border at Van that three children died last week of bird flu, and two other children are infected and receiving treatment. Bird flu, once transmitted to humans, is fatal in 50% of cases.
Currently seven areas in the southeast have reported instances of avian flu among birds in the southeastern region.
Tomorrow is the Feast of the Sacrifice, Eid al-Adha, or Qurbanir Eid, which commemorates the sacrifice asked of Abraham, where God asked Isaac to be prepared. Abraham obeyed, and God, sparing Isaac, ordered them to sacrifice. In Turkey animals from rural areas are transported to cities, where their meat, freshly slaughtered by halal means, is eaten at the feast. Eid al-Adha is celebrated on the 10th day of the Arabic month of Zilhaj.
It appears that Dr Gursoy's warning is too late. Another report today states that three people have tested positive for H15N virus in Ankara, the capital. Two children and an adult are affected.
In the human cases at Van, a 14 year old boy and his 15 year old sister died last week, with their 11 year old sister dying on Friday. A British lab has identified the virus on the elder two, and is now conducting tests on samples from the 11 year old girl.
As well as the two cases currently in intensive care at Van, the head physician at the Van hospital yesterday said another young person was suffering similar symptoms.
The two children who died last week are the first human cases of avian flu outside of the Far East, where previous incidents have been reported this year. They are also the the first fatalities beyond the Orient.
Currently culls of domestic fowl are being carried out throughout the rural eastern regions.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at January 9, 2006 3:53 PM
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