New outbreak of bird flu in Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Turkey's agriculture ministry reports new cases of bird flu have been detected in the Black Sea province of Samsun.

The virus was found in samples taken from poultry belonging to a local resident of the town of Yorukler, The New Anatolian reported Monday.

"We have determined that the wild waterfowls in the region are the source of the disease," said a spokesman for the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Affairs.

The spokesman said the latest outbreak affected only a small area and the necessary measures have been taken to halt the spread of the disease.

Experts say Turkey is especially susceptible to bird flu because it is on the route of migrating birds.

The first case of bird flu in Turkey was detected in 2005.