10 January 2006 – Chargé d’Affaires, a. i. (CDA) Alfonso A. Ver of the Philippine Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Embassy has not received any reported case of human infection or symptoms of bird flu among the Filipinos in Turkey as it continues to monitor the outbreak of the disease around Ankara and the eastern part of Turkey.

CDA Ver said that the Embassy has already disseminated an announcement to the Filipino community in Turkey “to undertake the necessary precautions and measures for their health in light of the outbreak of the avian influenza virus.”

Most recent news reports have said that new human cases of bird flu have been identified in several Turkish provinces, and officials have said that 14 people have now been infected.  Reports add, though, that there is as yet not evidence that the virus is passed from human to human.  Turkish officials have undertaken a mass cull of poultry in the affected region to prevent the virus from spreading further.

CDA Ver assured the Department that the Embassy will continue to monitor the progress in combating the spread of the virus in Turkey, coordinate with the Filipino community on preventive steps being taken, and inform the Department of all developments relating to this issue.  END