Erdogan said there is no need to panic over bird flu, and that there is no advantage in hurting Turkey's poultry sector, which employs many people.
Poultry sales have fallen in Turkey since the latest outbreak of avian influenza. Experts say eating poultry products poses no health threat if properly cooked.
Bird flu has killed four children in the country since December. Some 21 Turks so far have been diagnosed with bird flu.
(AP, AFP, Reuters)
Affected Areas
Click on the map for a closer view of the areas within RFE/RL's broadcast region where cases of diseased fowl have been confirmed. Last updated on February 20.
BIRD FLU, or avian influenza, continues to menace scattered areas from East Asia, where the disease first appeared, to Southeastern and Eastern Europe and beyond. Authorities around the world are bracing themselves -- and, more importantly, planning and taking measures to fight the disease wherever it appears.
Stories Of Particular Interest:
Bird-Flu Expert Discusses Issue Of Migratory Birds
Bird Flu: As European Worries Grow, Some See Benefits In Alarm
