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Bird flu: Turkey next in its path

Infection Control Monitor, October 14, 2005

The European Union (EU) says the bird flu that is currently decimating poultry stocks in Turkey is the deadly H5N1 strain that many fear may spark a pandemic, reports the Associated Press.

The strain shares a direct relationship with the outbreak in Russia, Mongolia, and China.

Officials found dead birds in a village outside of Balikesir, western Turkey. The government, which has placed the two-mile area under quarantine for the past week, believes the outbreak is contained.

Markos Kyprianou, the EU's commissioner for health and consumer protection, advised the EU countries to administer the flu vaccine to vulnerable populations. He urged all nations to stockpile anti-viral drugs.

The European Commission is proposing to set aside $1.2 billion to manufacture and distribute anti-virals and vaccines.

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