THE World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday tried to allay fears of a massive bird flu outbreak in Turkey, telling people not to panic but urging them to avoid contact with sick or dead poultry.

Turkey has “no reason to panic” over the outbreak of bird flu, a senior World Health Organisation official said today, urging Turks again to avoid contact with sick or dead poultry suspected in the rapid spread of the deadly H5N1 strain.

All European Union countries have plans to fight a possible bird flu pandemic, health officials said today, as tests confirmed the deadly strain of the virus had reached Croatia.