Press Centre 2006/01/19: Health
Bird flu in Turkey
Global news
The second international donor conference in Beijing has pledged $1.9 billion to the global fight against avian influenza or bird flu
, much more than originally expected. The money includes more than $330 million from the US and more than $250 million from the European Union (EU). The funds will be largely spent on health and vet services to prevent the H5N1 virus mutating and spreading from human to human. The World Bank had asked donors for $1.5 billion to fight the virus, which has killed nearly 80 people worldwide.
News from Turkey
A frame from the public information poster showing the six steps to avoid catching bird flu
The total number of human cases confirmed to have been infected by the H5N1 strain of avian influenza or ‘bird flu’ in Turkey remains unchanged at 21. Four people have died from infection to date -- all of them children.
All current cases date back to the earliest days of the outbreak in Turkey, prior to the start of culling operations and public awareness campaigns.
According to Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) has decided to cull all fowl in four provinces, including Van, where the outbreak began. Almost one million birds have been culled to date, some 300,000 in Province of Van alone.
UNICEF Health Officer Dr. Canan Sargın has just returned from Van, one of the most affected areas where local people are very aware of the situation and there are reports of widespread anxiety. Dr. Sargın carried out an informal survey of 32 local families to see if they know about bird flu.
Dr. Sargın found that clear messages are getting through, including the crucial instructions to:
- stay away from birds and
- wash your hands wıth soap and water.
Everyone in the families Dr. Sargın spoke to knew how to protect themselves, with most learning about the virus from national television news programmes, followed by pamphlets distributed before the schools closed for the national holidays on 8th January. They are also getting information from İmams, who are prefacing their calls to prayer over loudspeakers from mosques with messages about bird flu. Children are particularly well informed and have been influential in alerting their parents and other relatives.
Dr. Sargın also learned that culling teams have been told that they must not accept help from local people with the culling, following disturbing TV images of children running after chickens on behalf of the cullers.
Background
To date, children have made up the vast majority of human cases and deaths from bird flu in Turkey. All but two of the 21 confirmed cases to date have been children. Children often have increased exposure to birds, rearing them, feeding them, cleaning their pens, gathering eggs, and are more susceptible to infection. What is more, children are now at home for three weeks’ holiday from school, and therefore likely to be in close proximity to poultry as families tend to keep the animals in the home to protect them from the harsh winter snows.
The Government of Turkey is working with partners including WHO, FAO and UNICEF to ensure that even the most remote and illiterate communities know how to protect themselves, their children and their birds from the virus.
What needs to happen for children
Families need clear messages on the causes of infection, their risks, what they can do to protect themselves and where and when to seek medical treatment. The following messages are essential to prevent further infections among children:
- Keep children away from all poultry and other birds
- Report sick or dead birds to the authorities immediately
- Seek immediate treatment if you fall sick after contact with dead or sick birds
- Avian flu treatment is free
- Soap kills germs -- Wash your hands with soap and water frequently
- Cook eggs and chicken thoroughly at a high temperature
Backyard poultry is an important source of protein for growing children. A substitute source of protein must be found for millions of children who will no longer have access to this necessary nutritional resource.
Compensation needs to be paid rapidly and in conjunction with the culling so that people feel confident of payment and do not endanger themselves by hiding their birds. Long-term measures will be needed to protect children from the likely loss of family income as a result of culling.
What UNICEF is doing
The WHO is the leading worldwide agency on bird flu. However, UNICEF has been given special responsibility to prepare information, education and communication materials. In order to achieve this, related government ministries, UNICEF, other UN agencies and organisations such as the Turkish Red Crescent have established a communications task force. The Task Force aims to inform the public, especially children who are the most vulnerable group, about the issue.
The Government held a meeting of all 81 provincial governors on Friday, the 20th January. UNICEF took part in the meeting to present the participants with a package of communication materials on how bird flu affects children.
UNICEF also mobilised the Child-Friendly Media Network in Turkey to give people accurate and responsible information. A planned training workshop for media from Ankara and the surrounding provinces between the 21 and 22nd of January included a session on bird flu.
UNICEF is working with the Ministry of National Education (MONE) to assist children who have been left bewildered and somewhat anxious as a result of the outbreak and the cull, building on the experiences in the 1999 earthquake. School counsellors preparing to help children when they go back to school on 6th February -- an important opportunity to make sure that children get accurate and reassuring information.
Six steps to avoid bird flu
© UNICEF Turkey 2006
This poster was produced by UNICEF, the MOH and other partners to promote the six easy steps that children and their families should take to protect themselves from bird flu. Print-optimised versions are available for download in the following standard formats [PDF 1.9MB approx.]:
- A4 Six Steps to Avoid Bird Flu poster (210 x 297mm)
- A3 Six Steps to Avoid Bird Flu poster (297 x 420mm)
- A2 Six Steps to Avoid Bird Flu poster(420 x 594mm)
The artwork is supplied free for the promotion of this important public health issue provided that it is not used in any way other than for its intended purpose.
For more information
Angela Hawke, UNICEF CEE/CIS, Tel: +41 (0)22 909 5433
Sema Hosta, Communications Officer, UNICEF Turkey, Tel: +90 (0)312 454 1010
Canan Sargın, Health Programme Officer, UNICEF Turkey, Tel: +90 (0)312 454 1006
Find out more about avian influenza or bird flu
from the WHO international web site.
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