Questions are being raised with regard to the real danger posed by the bird flu, as it has claimed only three lives in Turkey while others infected in the country have survived. Most people are beginning to feel that the danger from the virus has been grossly overrated. The death toll rate of the H5N1 is estimated at 50%.
The World Health Organization's Dr. Guenael Rodier has however called upon scientists not draw conclusions in a hurry, as there could have been many false positive reports in Turkey. The outbreaks in Asian nations have already proved that the death rate due to the disease could be very high. The virus is believed to be carried in a very pathogenic form by wild migratory birds. This is reported to be how it was introduced into Romania and Turkey.The fact that the strain in Turkey is very similar to that of the strain in Qinghai Lake in China appears to prove this. In the case of Romania also the virus was detected on an important migratory route. The disease is however spreading as a result of the poultry trade. The disease is yet to make an appearance in the African Continent.
