WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/620 
19 January 2006 
 (06-0242) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
AVIAN INFLUENZA 
 
Communication from Turkey
 
  
 The following communication, received on 16 January 2006, is being circulated at the request 
of the Delegation of Turkey.  
_______________ 
  
Introduction 
 
1. The delegation of Turkey would like to inform the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary 
Measures of the latest situation on avian influenza (A I) in Turkey.   Since the process of identification 
of outbreaks, communications, and the taking of a ll necessary measures to control and eradicate the 
disease are still ongoing, this communication on AI in Tu rkey will be brief.  Up-to-date information 
on various aspects of the disease prevalent in some provinces in Turkey is, and will be, available on 
the web sites of the related international expert or ganizations such as OIE, WHO, and FAO, as well as 
from the General Directorate of Protection and Cont rol of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural 
Affairs ( www.kkgm@gov.tr
).  
2. Following three confirmed human cases and th ree deaths from Avian Influenza virus in 
Turkey, the highly pathogenic strain of the virus (H 5N1) has been given greater attention and serious 
consideration.  International public awareness has in creased due to human cases and three deaths in 
eastern Anatolia and detection and confirmation of the disease in other provinces.  Control measures 
to prevent the spread of the disease throughout Tu rkey have been on-going since the first detected 
case on 15 October 2005.  
3. Because Turkey is situated in one of the major migration routes of wild migrating birds it is 
susceptible to the disease and faces infection risk at any time of any year.  Unfavorable weather 
conditions and traditional farming practices, exacer bated by socio-economic factors, decrease the 
efforts and technical interventions to some extent while, at the same time, allowing the virus to live 
longer in the environment.  
General review of the situation  
 
4. AI outbreaks were first observed in Turkey on 5 October 2005 in the village Kiziksa of 
Manyas District of Balikesir Province in the north-western Anatolia.  In this region some swamp areas host both native wild birds and seasonal migrating bird s.  The first outbreak of AI was controlled and 
eventually eradicated, through a series of measures based on the OIE terrestrial animal health code 
recommendations.  Related international organizati ons, such as OIE, WHO, FAO, as well as related 
institutions of the European Union and neighborin g countries, were immediately informed of the 
situation of the outbreak and measures taken,  including preventive measures and control and 
eradication activities.  G/SPS/GEN/620 
Page 2  
 
  5. Subsequently, on 15 December 2005, a notificatio n was received of suspected deaths of 
backyard poultry flock in Kopruler quartier (ward) of Aralik District of Igdir Province in the far-eastern Turkey.  Testing of samples  taken from the poultry suspected of being infected confirmed the 
presence of the H5N1 strain of the AI virus.  These tests were conducted by national reference 
laboratory (Bornova Veterinary Control and Rese arch Institute) on 26 December 2005 and the 
diagnosis was also confirmed by the Weybridge of  England, OIE reference laboratory for AI on 7 
January 2006.  
6. AI outbreaks were detected in small open-ra nge backyard poultry flocks and swamp areas 
through clinical and post mortem examinations.  AI outbreaks were also confirmed through laboratory 
examinations by the national reference laboratory among wild birds susceptible to the disease in some 
other provinces in eastern Anatolia.  Currently, 20  outbreaks in 13 provinces (out of the total 81 
provinces in Turkey) have been scientifically confirmed to be caused by the H5N1 strain of AI virus.  
The provinces where positive cases reco rded are Igdir, Erzurum, Sanliurfa, Erzincan, Agri, Bitlis, 
Yozgat, Ankara, Bursa, Istanbul, Van, Aydin, Kars .  While there have been  32 suspected cases in 16 
provinces that have not been confirmed AI positive,   these case have been assumed to be AI positive 
and preventive and control measures have been implemented to address them.  The provinces, where 
AI cases have not been confirmed, are Mus, Ardahan, Izmir, Isparta,  Konya, Karaman, Siirt, Karabuk, 
Sivas, Bayburt, Elazig, Diyarbakir, Eskisehir, Mugla, Batman, Malatya.  
7. Until 15 January 2006, 764.000 birds, almost a ll from small backyard flocks, had been killed 
and destroyed.  All localities where outbreaks have been found to be positive for AI seem to be along 
migration routes of migrating birds.  
8. AI has not been observed in commercially integrated medium- to large-sized poultry 
production enterprises in Turkey.  This suggests that the source of infection is migratory birds that 
serve as a reservoir of the virus or dead infected birds.  
9. Many available and potential measures are being ta ken, such as short term, rapid and effective 
measures in various aspects of the disease, as well as medium term measures.  The events have also 
triggered long-term measures to be undertaken in  coordination with inte rnational institutions. 
Risk reduction and control interventions  
 
10. Scientific disease prevention and control methods  and measures have been on-going since the 
first outbreak of AI in north-western Anatolia a nd the second outbreak in eastern Anatolia.  Close 
cooperation and collaboration with the Ministry of Hea lth is an unavoidable consideration.  An expert 
team has carried out field visits a nd held follow-up meetings with expe rts of related institutions in the 
country.  An expert team from re lated international organizations h as also carried out field trips and 
discussed the situation with the national authorities.  
11. Risk reduction and control interventions imposed include: 
• Establishment of protection zones within a 3 km  radius and surveillance zones within a 7 km 
radius around the infected village and/or premises; 
• Stamping out all susceptible bird animals in th e control zone established in 3 km radius 
around the outbreak and compensating the losses.  All animals dead, infected and susceptible 
of being infected within the control zone were  destroyed and buried with lime in a pit on the 
ground; 
•
 Disinfection in and around of infected premises and establishments, as well as those premises 
and establishments suspected of being infected;  G/SPS/GEN/620 
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  • Compulsory dipping and spraying of vehicles going out (exiting) and coming in (entering) 
infected zones and/or surveillance zones; 
• Quarantine and bio-security measures in and around the control and surveillance zones; 
• Control of movement of all kind of animals inside the country is tightened and banning of 
movements of susceptible species within the country; 
• Surveillance of the wildlife reser vations and swamp areas;  and 
• Continuous clinical and serological surveillan ce around the outbreaks and/or suspected cases 
and within the potentially sensitive areas.  
 Administrative and financial measures taken include:  
 
• Activation of regional and na tional contingency planning.  Implementation of risk 
management practices; 
• Activation of high alert status of national and local disease control centers; 
• Increased and tightened of bio-security measures through the country; 
• Immediate and on-going provision of information about the occurrence of the disease to all 
related international organiza tions and neighboring countries; 
• Raising of public awareness through all availa ble means of communications, mainly by media 
published and/or broadcast nationally and regionally; 
• Prohibition of vaccinations; 
• Training of technical stuff and increasing the capacity of veterinary services through various 
means including continuous working hours; 
• Allocation and mobilization of financial res ources, in addition to the existing budgetary 
allocations;  and 
• Temporary prohibition of hunting in the country until the second announcement.  
 12. Follow-up reports to the related internationa l organizations on all preventive and control 
measures taken and experience gained will be communicated thoroughly.  The SPS Committee will 
also be informed.  
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