Town quarantined, 609 birds killed over bird flu in Turkey’s southeast

MARDİN

At least 609 birds were killed and a town was quarantined in the southeastern province of Mardin when authorities detected two birds were carrying the influenza in the suburban Kızıltepe County on Jan. 13.

“A local told us about their animals dying, and, so, we contacted the authorities who took a couple of the dead animals for inspections to Elazığ,” Seyfettin Çiftçi, neighbordhood mukhtar told journalists.

“Bird flu was detected on the animals that died,” Çiftçi said.

“Then, units arrived and killed all winged-animals,” Çiftçi added.

The city health teams buried the birds in a pit after they were destroyed, and quarantined the town, Doğan News Agency reported.

The authorities who arrived at the Büyük Boğazye village in the county after the bird flu’s detection were seen to be wearing special uniforms and masks when collecting the animals.

The units also applied disinfectant to the coops and animal shelters.

“They began collecting all two-feeted animals, including ducks, chicken, and turkey, saying they would kill them,” Çiftçi said.

Raising local concerns, Çiftçi also mentioned the killing of these animals would cost the locals a price that, he thinks, should be compensated.

The inspections are ongoing the southeastern province regarding the disease.