Poultry farmers on the Greek islands near Turkey have begun voluntarily culling their flocks in hopes of preventing a bird flu outbreak from neighboring Turkey.
Local authorities on Kastellorizo said they decided to start culling their birds independently after residents learned four people in Turkey had died from handling birds infected with the H5N1 avian virus, the Kathimerini news service reported Thursday.
Turkey lies to the east of the Greek islands across the Aegean Sea.
Greek Agriculture Minister Evangelos Bassiakos set out to visit other islands in the Dodecanese island chain Thursday to ensure that regional authorities are implementing anti-bird flu measures as mandated by the government.
Greece has not issued a travel ban to Turkey, but urged citizens to travel there only if absolutely necessary.
Bird flu has killed more than 70 people in China and Southeast Asia since it emerged in 2003.
© Copyright 2006 by United Press International
