Bird flu claims fourth victim in Turkey

Health authorities today said that preliminary Turkish tests confirmed that a 12-year-old girl who died was infected with the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu, raising Turkey’s death toll to four.

Fatma Ozcan died yesterday in the eastern city of Van, but initial tests had been negative for H5N1.

The Health Ministry ordered a new round of tests after her five-year-old brother, Muhammet, tested positive yesterday, and officials said those confirmed her infection.