Bird flu spreads in Turkey

Cases of bird flu are reportedly spreading in Turkey, with cases reported in the east, north and centre of the country.

Two children - both siblings from the village of Dogubayazit - have died after becoming infected with the deadly H5N1 virus. Tests are continuing to determine whether a third child - a sister of the two dead children - also died from the virus.

The deaths are the first to be reported outside South-East Asia, where around 70 people have died from bird flu over the past two years.

Fifteen people are now believed to have become infected with the virus.

Cases have been reported in Ankara and Istanbul - although some reports indicate that the people in Istanbul, thought to have been infected with H5NI, have tested negative.

The latest case is believed to have been reported in the central province of Sivas.

It is understood that all the cases reported so far have involved people who had direct contact with dead or infected poultry. Health experts have said that there is no sign that the virus is now passing between humans, although there are increasing fears that the virus could begin to mutate as more humans become infected.

More than 100,000 birds have been culled so far in a bid to contain the outbreak.

(KMcA/GB)