A case of bird flu has been discovered in western Turkey, but everything is under control, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported on Sunday.

"Bird flu has been discovered in a farm near Bird Sanctuary National Park in Manyas town of northern Aegean city of Balikesir located in western Turkey," Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Mehmet Mehdi Eker was quoted as saying.

"All animals on the farm had been slaughtered," Eker said, adding that the government has taken every precautionary measure to prevent its spread, which was found in Turkey for the first time.

Eker said the flu was believed to be brought by migratory birds coming from Ural Mountains destined to Africa via Manyas Lake. "As the farm is close to Manyas Lake, such a case can be seen."

A statement issued by the ministry further explained that "the disease was notified to Provincial Agriculture Directorate on Oct. 5 and official veterinarians took samples from the farm on the same day, which have been sent to international institute for further examination."

"On Oct. 6, veterinarians of the ministry slaughtered all remaining animals and necessary disinfecting was made and permanent quarantine measures were taken in the region," it added.

According to the statement, the Turkish government has informed international organizations like the European Union and the World Organization for Animal Health of the case.

There are several strains of bird flu but only a few are deadly. Experts are tracking the H5N1 strain, fearing that it could mutate and spawn a human flu pandemic that could kill millions.

The H5N1 strain has killed 65 people and millions of birds worldwide since its first outbreak in Asia in 2003.

It is not clear yet whether the Turkish case is the deadly H5N1 virus.

Source: Xinhua