Statements by U.S. Officials

State Department: US Avian Influenza Team to Turkey

January 13, 2006

As a friend and partner of Turkey, the United States would like to offer support to Turkey as they deal with the reported cases of avian flu. To this end, the United States is sending an interagency team of influenza experts to Turkey to assess the avian flu situation there, see what lessons have been learned, and make recommendations on what the United States can do to support efforts in Turkey to deal with and prepare for avian flu. 

The team will consist of experts in animal and human health surveillance, laboratory capacity, and public health communications from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agency for International Development, Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of State. 

The team expects to arrive in Ankara Monday to meet with Turkish government officials and with representatives of international organizations, such as the World Health Organization, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, already working locally on avian influenza.  Members of the team will subsequently travel to Turkish regions affected by the flu to see first hand efforts already underway.  Our goal is to learn about the actual state of the influenza so that we can support efforts to fight avian influenza and stop it from spreading.  In this regard, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has already sent two experts to Turkey this week to work with the World Health Organization at its request.

This effort is part of the worldwide efforts of the U.S. to work against this global threat.