ANKARA, Oct 14: Turkish medical staff on Friday tested nine people for possible bird flu a day after European health officials confirmed what many had long feared – the arrival of the deadly H5N1 strain on Europe’s doorstep.

European Union experts held crisis talks on the spread of the bird flu to examine the risk migratory birds might pose for the region.

The meeting was expected to approve measures to combat the spread of the disease by requiring EU member states to reduce contact between poultry and wild birds in high risk areas, the EU Commission said. This could include keeping poultry indoors.

The spread of the disease from Asia was a ‘troubling sign’, US Health Secretary Mike Leavitt said.—Reuters