Turkey kills 355,000 birds to fight flu

VILLAGERS handed over chickens and other fowl for slaughter yesterday as Turkey stepped up efforts to stem the spread of a deadly strain of bird flu.

The World Health Organisation (WHO), meanwhile, confirmed an Indonesian woman was killed by the virus, raising the total number of victims worldwide to at least 79.

In southeastern Turkey, where the virus is spreading, villagers who had been hesitant to give up their poultry said they would stop raising birds to minimise the chances of getting infected.