January 16, 2006

Turkey's poultry industry seen badly affected by bird flu

The leader of a Turkish poultry producers' union said that the industry could end up losing US$30 million a month if a deadly bird flu outbreak continues, according to a newspaper report Saturday.

Authorities nationwide continued to slaughter thousands of chickens, turkeys and geese as a precaution against the H5N1 strain of the virus.

Kemal Akman, who heads a poultry producers' union, told the Hurriyet newspaper that sales have plunged by 70 percent since human infections were confirmed in Turkey a week ago. At least 455,000 domestic birds have been culled, and bird flu is now confirmed or suspected in birds in 26 of Turkey's 81 provinces.

Akman warned that the US$3 billion industry, which employs 100,000 people, could end up losing US$30 million a month if the outbreak continues, the newspaper reported.

Neighbouring Iran said Saturday that it has ordered the destruction of about 1,000 birds and banned imports of fowl in an attempt to keep the country free of bird flu.