EU team in Turkey to investigate bird flu outbreak

A two-member EU team arrived in western Turkey today to help investigate an outbreak of bird flu in a western village that killed 1,800 turkeys.

Veterinarians from Turkey’s Agriculture Ministry said nearly 10,000 birds had been culled in the village of Kiziksa following a mandatory order to deliver them for destruction and that the outbreak of bird flu had been contained.

Officials also said the incubation period for the bird flu detected in Kiziksa already had passed and there was no danger the virus detected there could spread.

Authorities are on alert across Turkey, however, and have warned that migratory birds could still spread the flu elsewhere.

The EU delegation is expected to meet with Turkish officials today and visit Kiziksa tomorrow.

EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso yesterday said Sunday the EU will not hesitate to propose “drastic measures” to fight the spread of bird flu if current safeguards proved insufficient.

Bird flu has been found in Romania and Turkey, and the EU has banned all poultry imports from those countries.