DUSHANBE, January 12, Asia-Plus - “This resolution is being passed for the purpose of minimizing the risk of bird flu (avian influenza) spreading to Tajikistan,” Samariddin Aliyev, Head of Physician of Tajikistan’s center for Sanitary-epidemiological Supervision, remarked in his interview with Asia-Plus.  

According to the Asia-Plus interlocutor, he resolution is aimed, first of all, at raising bird flu awareness among tourism companies in Tajikistan and advising Tajik citizens not travel unnecessarily to Turkey and China as well as tightening control of flights to and from these countries.  Mr. Aliyev says that at present control and medical services at the airports are thoroughly inspecting passengers arriving from Turkey .  

Reports say the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned that bird flu could become endemic in Turkey and pose a serious risk to neighboring countries.  Health officer Juan Lubroth said it might be spreading despite controls.  More than 300,000 birds have been culled.  The UN''s bird flu coordinator says Turkey has revealed that the best prevention is through a rapid response to outbreaks and widespread education.  Two people have died from the H5N1 strain in Turkey - 13 are in hospital.

Turkey ’s authorities are taking efforts to localize centers of infections.  Turkey ''s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan believes a bird flu outbreak that caused at least two deaths and prompted a mass cull of poultry is under control.