Via the BBC: UN warning over Turkey bird fluBird flu could become endemic in Turkey and pose a serious risk to neighbouring countries, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned.
Two people have died from the H5N1 strain in Turkey - 13 are in hospital.
[…]
The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 could become endemic in Turkey,” the FAO said.
The cases are spread across the country, as per this map from the BBC (it show confirmed cases of the H5N1 virus). Also, here’s a companion piece on the problems in the rural regions of the country.
Beyond all of that, the shrinking nature of the world made me take notice of this story more than had it been some other country, as we have a lot of Turkish students at Troy–and have for years. I currently have two graduate students, at least one form Ankara. It isn’t that I am concerned about bird flu, but it shows the shrinking nature of the world that somehow a story from Turkey has a local element to people living and working in Troy, Alabama.
Also, it strikes me that it is probably somewhat difficult for Turkish students to be away from home when there are dramatic happenings back in their home country.
The NYT also has an interesting piece on this topic, A Scientific Puzzle: Some Turks Have Bird Flu Virus but Aren’t Sick
Two young brothers, ages 4 and 5, who have tested positive for the dreaded A(H5N1) avian virus but shown no symptoms of the disease were being closely watched at Kecioren Hospital here on Tuesday. Doctors are unsure whether they are for the first time seeing human bird flu in its earliest stages or if they are discovering that infection with the A(H5N1) virus does not always lead to illness.
That last article was quite interesting. It makes me wonder what is going on in Turkey on many different levels.
Comment by Jan — Wednesday, January 11, 2024 @ 7:46 am
One benefit of Western modern farming techniques is that farm birds spend their days and nights confined in buildings, much to the chagrin of animal rights advocates. This way of raising poultry is more efficient for large farms and has the side effect of reducing exposure to migratory birds.
This is a big reason that the virus is seen mostly in 3rd world agricultural areas and has thus far been extremely rare in 1st world agricultural areas.
Comment by Buckland — Wednesday, January 11, 2024 @ 1:05 pm
I cannot find the cite right now, but there are a bunch of Chinese that tested the same. As with any disease, some people are going to have a mild version.
The CDC estimated influenza rates from those tested. Presumably those sick enough to be tested represent a statistical cross section of the population. Or not.
As Buckland points out, if you live with chickens you increase your risk of getting H5N1.
Another curiosity, 1% of those tested in the US have H1N1, the strain that produced the Spanish Flu.
Comment by Chuck Simmins — Wednesday, January 11, 2024 @ 7:15 pm