Bird flu suspected in turkeys in Israel

JERUSALEM – Israeli health officials announced Friday that they believe more than 1,000 turkeys have died in recent days from bird flu, the first reported cases in the country.

Initial test results appeared to confirm that birds being raised on four farms in southern Israel died after being infected by the H5N1 virus, the avian flu’s deadly strain. Additional tests recommended by the World Health Organization are being conducted to confirm the findings, but Israeli officials are already taking precautions.

The Agriculture Ministry began preparations Friday to kill 86,000 birds within a roughly two-mile radius around the farms where the turkeys have died in recent days.

Israel also halted the export of all unprocessed chicken and turkey meat, and health officials sought to assure Israelis that the supply in stores was safe from infection.

“The risk that people will contract the virus is very, very low,” said Avi Yisraeli, the health ministry’s general director.

Nearly 100 people worldwide have died from the avian flu, and tens of millions of birds have been slaughtered in efforts to stop its spread.

After cases of avian flu were discovered in Turkey last fall, Israeli health and agriculture officials said it was likely only a matter of time before the first birds here contracted the virus.