Snowy Owl
Retired in 2010, In Memoriam
Migratory birds raise questions of flu preparedness
http://www.thenewanatolian.com/tna-13264.html
http://www.thenewanatolian.com/tna-13264.html
Migratory birds, following the heat, have started returning to the south of Turkey, at the same time raising the question of whether authorities have taken measures to prevent a fresh outbreak of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu.
Since 2004 outbreaks of avian influenza among poultry have been reported by several countries in Asia, including Turkey. There were cases of the fatal virus in the southeast in January which killed almost a dozen people. In the wake of the outbreaks, many birds were culled by municipal extermination teams, in the face of criticism by the public as well as animals rights groups over the way they were killed.
Nature Association members yesterday said that this time every year migratory birds such as storks, eagles, falcons and hawks head south. They also said that water fowl, such as ducks and geese, also migrate south.
The association urged authorities to take steps to prevent a potential outbreak of bird flu.
Vets: Too much theory, not enough concrete plans
Istanbul Veterinaries' Chamber Chair Tahsin Yesildere told news channel NTV yesterday that local authorities have yet to take any preventive measures against the deadly virus although the migration season has already begun.
"It's hard to say that concrete measures have been taken against avian flu," Yesildere said. He then warned it's possible the country could face another outbreak of the deadly strain of the HN51 virus, adding that would be a terrible embarrassment for the country.
"It's not possible to say that the government, the Agriculture, Health and Environment Ministries or local administrations have done their best to prevent an outbreak of bird flu," he charged.
Describing the Health Ministry's national pandemic plans, drawn up a few months ago, as significant but not enough, Yesildere claimed the measures they contain will fall short in practice as they're mostly theoretical.
Yesildere then said that the pandemic plan only gives information about a possible genetic mutation of the HN51 virus into a deadlier infection that would kill many people in the future.
He also added that the ministries in question should meet with governors' offices, provincial health departments, education departments and civil groups to find ways to put theory into practice.
Health Ministry: We're ready
The Health Ministry denied the vets' allegations yesterday as well, saying that it has already taken measures to deal with the virus.
Turan Buzgan, general manager of the ministry's Basic Health Services Department, also told NTV that another outbreak of the virus could be fatal.
Referring to claims that the government and related ministries have fallen short in implementing preventive measures against it, Buzgan said that the Health Ministry is already prepared as it's stocked the necessary medicine, such as seasonal flu vaccines, designated quarantine units in hospitals and distributed leaflets, put up posters and broadcast Public Service Announcements (PSAs) to raise public awareness on bird flu and its consequences.
Since 2004 outbreaks of avian influenza among poultry have been reported by several countries in Asia, including Turkey. There were cases of the fatal virus in the southeast in January which killed almost a dozen people. In the wake of the outbreaks, many birds were culled by municipal extermination teams, in the face of criticism by the public as well as animals rights groups over the way they were killed.
Nature Association members yesterday said that this time every year migratory birds such as storks, eagles, falcons and hawks head south. They also said that water fowl, such as ducks and geese, also migrate south.
The association urged authorities to take steps to prevent a potential outbreak of bird flu.
Vets: Too much theory, not enough concrete plans
Istanbul Veterinaries' Chamber Chair Tahsin Yesildere told news channel NTV yesterday that local authorities have yet to take any preventive measures against the deadly virus although the migration season has already begun.
"It's hard to say that concrete measures have been taken against avian flu," Yesildere said. He then warned it's possible the country could face another outbreak of the deadly strain of the HN51 virus, adding that would be a terrible embarrassment for the country.
"It's not possible to say that the government, the Agriculture, Health and Environment Ministries or local administrations have done their best to prevent an outbreak of bird flu," he charged.
Describing the Health Ministry's national pandemic plans, drawn up a few months ago, as significant but not enough, Yesildere claimed the measures they contain will fall short in practice as they're mostly theoretical.
Yesildere then said that the pandemic plan only gives information about a possible genetic mutation of the HN51 virus into a deadlier infection that would kill many people in the future.
He also added that the ministries in question should meet with governors' offices, provincial health departments, education departments and civil groups to find ways to put theory into practice.
Health Ministry: We're ready
The Health Ministry denied the vets' allegations yesterday as well, saying that it has already taken measures to deal with the virus.
Turan Buzgan, general manager of the ministry's Basic Health Services Department, also told NTV that another outbreak of the virus could be fatal.
Referring to claims that the government and related ministries have fallen short in implementing preventive measures against it, Buzgan said that the Health Ministry is already prepared as it's stocked the necessary medicine, such as seasonal flu vaccines, designated quarantine units in hospitals and distributed leaflets, put up posters and broadcast Public Service Announcements (PSAs) to raise public awareness on bird flu and its consequences.