Avian flu confirmed in North Cyprus
Holidaymakers visiting North Cyprus have been warned to ensure that poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked after confirmation of an outbreak of bird flu.
A case of the H5N1 virus has been confirmed in poultry in the small village of Incirli, which is south of Famagusta near the border with South Cyprus – “miles away from the nearest tourist resort area,” according to the North Cyprus Tourism Centre in London.
The Tourism Centre stressed that it was “business as usual” for tourism to the destination following the discovery.
It added that North Cypriot authorities have been taking “all necessary precautions” since last year, including restricting the hunting season which was due to open in early January. All poultry within a 10Km radius of the incident has been rounded up and disposed of.
The border with Southern Cyprus has not been closed, and there are no human infections.
Holidaymakers were warned to ensure that poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.
North Cyprus Tourism Centre director Bengu Sonya said: “We would naturally caution any visitors as well as local people to avoid coming into contact with birds of any kind for time being, and we are confident that the local authorities have acted very quickly to isolate this single outbreak.”
He added that once the migration of birds has concluded within the month of February, there will be no further concern for avian flu for the tourist season of summer 2006.
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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