Children 'critical' in bird flu outbreak

Two Turkish children who have been tested for the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu were in a critical condition today, a health ministry official said.

Eighteen people have tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain in Turkey and tests were under way today to determine whether more people, including the two children in hospital in the eastern city of Van, have the virus, said Ali Coskun, a senior Health Ministry official.