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Health and medicine
Bird flu likely killed siblings in Turkey
Associated Press
Published January 6, 2006
VAN, Turkey - A virulent strain of bird flu is suspected in the death of a 15-year-old girl in eastern Turkey on Thursday, four days after her brother succumbed. Their doctor said they probably contracted the illness by playing with dead chickens.
Two other siblings from the same family were seriously ill, said Huseyin Avni Sahin, head physician at the hospital in Van, where the children were treated. Twelve other patients were being treated for bird flu at the same hospital.
Preliminary tests in Turkey indicated Fatma Kocyigit and Mehmet Ali Kocyigit, 14, died of the H5N1 strain of bird flu. If confirmed, it would be the first deaths from the strain outside eastern Asian areas, where more than 70 people have died. Samples were being sent to a British lab for confirmation.
U.S. companies join chicken industry program to test flocks for bird flu
WASHINGTON - Seeking to reassure people that chicken is safe to eat, companies that raise chickens said Thursday they will test every flock for bird flu before the birds are slaughtered.
The National Chicken Council, a trade group, did not say which companies are participating, but spokesman Richard Lobb said, "Practically all the big ones are in it." Tyson Foods Inc. and Pilgrim's Pride Corp. said they would be testing their flocks.
[Last modified January 6, 2006, 01:05:09]
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