Brussels, 09/01/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 10 January, the European Commission is due to adopt new anti-avian flu measures, following the confirmation that the deadly H5N1 virus had claimed two lives in eastern Turkey (see EUROPE 9103). On 9 January, the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health put forward a proposal to ban the import of untreated feathers from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Syria, Iran and Iraq which neighbour the area of Turkey affected by avian flu.
This will complete EU operations in efforts to halt the spread of avian flu. There has been a ban on the import of meats and all poultry-based products into Europe from these six countries since October 2005. No further measures have been taken with regard to Turkey, already under an embargo on the export of feathers, live birds and poultry products. The Commission explained that a team of experts, sent jointly by the World Health Organisation and the European Commission, had started work on 9 January. The team will investigate the epidemiological situation on the ground and assist the Turkish authorities in dealing with it. On 9 January, 12 people were being treated in Turkey for avian flu and the virus would appear to have spread across the whole country. After receiving the results of tests carried out at the reference laboratory in Weybridge, United Kingdom, on 7 January the Commission confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus in infected poultry in the east of Turkey, where two adolescents died from the virus. Seeking to reassure its people, the Commission said that hitherto no case of the deadly avian flu had been detected in the EU. Since last October, tests carried out on some 25,000 birds have all proved negative, said a Commission spokesperson. On 9 January, the Commission said that it believed that Ankara had taken all necessary steps against the spread of avian flu in Turkey. It dissociated itself from criticisms within Turkey of poor crisis management by the authorities. This echoed the sentiments of the head of the WTO expert delegation, who, on the same day, praised the efforts of Turkish officials to contain the illness.