ANKARA, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's ministries of health, environment and
agriculture have drafted an emergency action plan to fight against a possible
bird flu epidemic, local Today's Zaman reported on Tuesday.
Officials from the Ministry of Health were quoted as saying that they have
taken action to introduce protective measures against the disease with a credit
of some 22 million U.S. dollars contracted from the World Bank and a donation of
6 million euros granted by the European Union.
The ministry has also launched joint researches and studies with ministries
of environment and agriculture to avert any possible bird flu cases, especially
in the northern city of Samsun along the Black Sea, where is frequented by
migratory birds.
Meanwhile, about 65 experts from the Protection and Control
Directorate-General will conduct precautionary exercises in a town near the
Kizilirmak Bird Paradise on Oct. 16-19.
Approximately 50 veterinarians from provinces where chicken raising is
common will take part in the exercise and attend a seminar on bird flu.
Bird flu virus was first discovered in Turkey in October 2005 at a farm
near Manyas, just south of the Marmara Sea.
