January 10, 2006	Tuesday	Zilhaj 9, 1426

ISTANBUL, Jan 9: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan pleaded with citizens on Monday to hand over sick birds to the authorities for slaughter amid reports that many poor people are hiding their poultry despite a worsening outbreak of deadly bird flu.

“I especially request citizens who breed fowl and who are still keeping fowl to report to the authorities if they encounter any trouble, and if there is trouble, to opt for slaughter,” Mr Erdogan said.

He gave assurances that the government is taking all measures against the spread of the lethal H5N1 bird flu virus, which claimed two lives last week and infected 12 other people, mostly children, currently in hospital.

“I call on the media not to create an atmosphere of panic,” Mr Erdogan said.

Although sheep and cattle are not affected by avian influenza, animals that have lived in close proximity with infected birds may carry the virus on their skins or feet, experts say.

WHO TREATING 14 CASES: In Geneva, the World Health Organization (WHO) said it was now treating all 14 of the bird flu cases announced by Turkish authorities as confirmed.

“We are treating the five reported yesterday and the five reported today as cases,” said spokeswoman Christine McNab.

The Geneva-based United Nations health agency, which had previously put the confirmed cases in the outbreak at four, raised the total after Ankara gave details of laboratory tests carried out on the other 10, she said.

Samples from the 10 would be sent to London for further examination, which is in line with the WHO practice of seeking corroboration from a laboratory outside an affected country.—Reuters