UN Says Bird Flu in Turkey a Serious Risk to Neighbors

An outbreak of bird flu could become endemic in Turkey and “poses a serious risk to neighboring countries,” the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said on January 11.

FAO has called on neighboring countries, including Georgia, to be on high alert, to apply surveillance and control measures and to ensure that the public is fully informed about the avian influenza risk.

Reportedly, two teenagers have died from the H5N1 virus – commonly referred to as the ‘bird flu’ – last week in eastern Turkey and 13 others are in the hospital.

Georgian cabinet members discussed measures at the session on January 11 that are underway to prevent the arrival of the avian flu to Georgia. 

“The Ministries of Agriculture and Health Care are fully mobilized, special teams have been set up in the regions; measures on the border with Turkey have been strengthened. The authorities have taken every measure to prevent the spread of the bird flu in Georgia,” Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said at the government’s session.

He also said that although security has been heightened on the borders, “there is one problem related with South Ossetia…It is still possible to smuggle poultry products through South Ossetia.” 
 
Georgian Agriculture Minister Mikheil Svimonishvili reiterated on January 11 that currently there is no threat of a bird flu outbreak in Georgia.

The government decided to allocate a total of GEL 2.7 million (USD 1.5 million) for measures to prevent the arrival of the bird flu in the country. This is GEL 1.9 million more than the sum allocated by the government last October.

Border checkpoints are equipped with disinfectants, protective clothing and special equipment and vehicles entering Georgia undergo disinfection procedures.

Officials say that there is no need to close the borders with Turkey yet.

The Georgian media reported that a poultry market in Kobuleti, Adjara Autonomous Republic, which borders Turkey, was closed down by local authorities.

The Healthcare Ministry has started the dissemination process of special brochures which contain information about the virus and precautions to take to avoid contracting the disease.

Poultry farms in Georgia say sales have drastically decreased in recent month.

Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia also announced on January 10 that bird flu preventive measures will be carried out.

Apsnipress news agency reported that the Abkhaz authorities have banned poultry import from Turkey and Georgia. According to the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee Interior Ministry of breakaway region will take measures to prevent the import of poultry from Georgia.