The annual bird migration from the cooling north
to the warmer southern continents has begun.
As migration begins, experts draw attention to
the bird flu and stress the precautionary
measures taken last year should be implemented more appropriately
this year.
Nature Observers Association Executive Board Member
Asaf Ertan said, “All poultry in Turkey should be vaccinated
to minimize any negative effects from the bird migration expected
to cross Turkey.”
The deadly H5N1 strain of the bird flu first appeared
at a turkey farm in the Turkish town of Manyas, Balikesir, in October
2005.
After the area was quarantined, the Turkish Agriculture
and Rural Affairs Ministry announced the bird flu epidemic had been
completely eradicated.
However, several deaths resulting from the epidemic
once again made the issue a priority in 2006.
The bird flu claimed its first life in Turkey on
January 11, 2006.
Muhammed Ali Kocyigit, 14, sent to the city of
Van to receive treatment after coming in contact an infected dead
bird, became the first victim.
Following Kocyigit’s death, his sisters Fatma
and Hulya also died from the same disease.
The virus spread across Turkey, southeastern Anatolia
in particular, and millions of poultry were culled.
Turkey lies on five migratory routes where birds
migrate through across the globe.
There are over 300 villages in Turkey where birds
are likely to land during the migration.
The bird flu strain, H5N1, has a permanent and
real potential risk of spreading to poultry bred along the migratory
routes.
Experts stress the migration routes cannot be changed,
and therefore, measures should be taken to prevent poultry from
coming into contact with migrating birds.
