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A UN bird flu expert examining an outbreak in Turkey
has said the disease seems to be spreading from poultry
to humans as it did in Asia, and called for stepped-up
efforts to monitor its course.
"There is no evidence to suggest any difference
in the disease pattern than what we have previously
seen for H5N1," said Guenael Rodier, the UN World
Health Organization (WHO) Special Adviser on Communicable
Diseases, referring to the virus that causes avian influenza.
"More work needs to be done, however, particularly
in terms of isolation in hospitals, and in the description
of factors causing the spread of infection," he
told reporters via teleconference from Ankara.
Rodier cautioned that it is too early to make any final
conclusions, but stressed, "the situation is very
similar to the one that we have experienced in Asia."
Transmission in Turkey, he said, appeared to be occurring
among families with children.
"This may mean that infection occurred because
children were playing with dead or infected chickens,"
said Rodier, who is leading a team of WHO and European
officials in Turkey.
Various experts in veterinary science and epidemiology
are investigating the reason for the outbreak.
"After coordinating with the laboratory in London,
we will have a better idea of the cause," he said.
While emphasizing that the cases indicate that infection
in humans has occurred due to "clear documented
contact with poultry," he cautioned that "we
anticipate we could expect potential human cases if
the disease is not controlled in animals."
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