Countries step up bird flu battle

Turkey culled more birds to try to stop the deadly H5N1 avian flu virus from spreading further, as did some worried neighbours.

Roche AG, maker of Tamiflu, the best known drug defence against flu, said it would donate more antiviral pills to Asia, the epicenter of the health threat. Turkish doctors expressed hope that early use of the drug was helping save some of the young victims of the virus.

The World Bank said global financial costs to prepare for and respond to outbreaks of bird flu will be between $1.2 billion and $1.4 billion, with most money needed in East Asia and the Pacific region, followed by Europe and Central Asia and then Africa.

Cash will be needed for animal and human health alike, as well as the building of drug stockpiles to treat victims of the virus, which still mostly affects birds but which has infected about 150 people and killed at least 78.

The human victims of the disease had all been in East Asia until the recent outbreak in Turkey brought the virus to the crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Three infected children died last week in eastern Turkey and 15 more people have tested positive. Authorities are testing whether a four-year-old girl who died Friday was infected.

At least two children, including eight-year-old Sumeyye Mamuk, were discharged from a hospital in Van, eastern Turkey, on Thursday after being treated with Tamiflu.

"She has completely recovered. This is a success for us," Van hospital Dr. Ahmed Faik Oner told Reuters.

Like so many other children, Sumeyye apparently became infected while trying to comfort a sick chicken.

Two people were admitted to hospital in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir for tests after showing "suspicious" symptoms. The disease has struck poultry in the area.

Turkey's Agriculture Ministry said almost 600,000 poultry had been culled across the country over the past two weeks.

Newspapers say the authorities may offer 5 lira ($3) per chicken, 15 ($9) lira per goose and duck and 20 lira ($12) per turkey as compensation.

"Our sales of white meat have plunged 80 percent in the last couple of days. People are avoiding chicken. They choose other dishes instead," said Van egg producer Resat Baytar.

Iran started culling thousands of birds along its border with Turkey to try to stop the disease from spreading.

France said it was extending its poultry confinement measures to 58 departments from an original 26 as fears grow over a virus believed to be carried by migratory birds.

Romania, just across the Black Sea from Turkey, boosted disinfection measures on major roads and introduced luggage checks at airports, train stations and sea ports.