Despite the fact that more than 300,000 birds have now been culled in Turkey to control the avian flu virus-- and this effort is continuing -- the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization is concerned that the beginnings of an endemic situation may have been unleashed. Neighboring countries are at risk should the virus continue to spread.

The U.N. has sent teams to Turkey in an effort to assist in containing the virus. It has also warned all the countries geographically close to Turkey to provide accurate preventive information to their residents. Public cooperation is critical in stemming this disease.

The World Health Organization is examining why the H5N1 virus has spread so quickly throughout Turkey. It has found that that Turkish Government acted appropriately and provided the necessary public health information. People with flu symptoms living in the vicinity of identified virus converged on hospitals for medical care, and a general panic was avoided.

The primary concern is that the avian flu virus, which has a high mortality rate for those infected, will mutate and begin to spread via human contact. Right now there has been no indication that anyone has transmitted the disease in this way. All human infection has been contracted through contact with diseased birds.

Isolation may be the best way to contain the disease and prevent further spread in all areas where the virus is known to be present. Otherwise, we may be facing more animal and human exposure. And the more this happens, the greater the chance of a mutation.

Rosalyn is a writer and consultant. For additional information and updates about avian flu, go to http://www.blog-podcast.com.