Turkish minister says bird flu ‘under control’
BALIKESİR – Anadolu Agency
DHA Photo
Turkish Health Minister Mehmet Müezzinoğlu has said all the necessary precautions have been taken after bird flu was detected in Turkey’s western province of Balıkesir and the area surrounding poultry facilities in the region was quarantined.The bird flu virus was detected in samples of dead chickens taken by the Veterinary Control Institute of the Ministry of Food, after at least 40,000 chickens died in the last four months in the province’s Bandırma district.
Müezzinoğlu said May 4 in a press conference that all necessary precautions had been taken in Bandırma, adding that no additional measures were currently needed.
“The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, the Ministry of Health and the Public Health Agency are closely monitoring the situation,” Müezzinoğlu said.
The areas surrounding poultry facilities in the region have been quarantined since April 3, Bandırma Governor Ali Mantı told reporters on April 4.
Mantı also stated chickens under the risk of being infected with bird flu have been culled and disinfection of the facilities has been completed.
Roads leading to the poultry facilities have been blocked and hunting has been banned in the region until further notice, Mantı said.
At least 1.2 million chickens are bred in poultry facilities in Bandırma, which is also a route for imported chicken.
