Child tested for bird flu dies in Turkey
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-01-02 10:36

Sunday's Zaman newspaper said authorities in Erzurum province, also in eastern Turkey, have culled more than 700 poultry in recent days after 15 chickens died "in suspicious circumstances."

The October outbreak of bird flu occurred in northwestern Turkey, triggering the culling of more than 10,000 birds. That outbreak was identified as the deadly H5N1 strain. Several people were briefly hospitalized.

The Agriculture Ministry declared that region free of bird flu in early December, but experts say the country remains vulnerable because of the movements of migratory birds.

Turkish authorities say they believe the Igdir outbreak was caused by migratory birds from the Caucasus.