Bird Flu Virus Claims a Second Victim in Turkey
ANKARA, Turkey - On Thursday, a second person, Fatma Kocyigit, has died of avian flu virus in Turkey. Her brother, Mehmet Ali Kocyigit, 14, died of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza Sunday. The siblings are the first known human deaths from the bird flu virus outside of China and Southeast Asia. The siblings' family raised chickens, some of which began dying a few months ago. Shortly after that, some of the children in the family fell ill with flu-like symptoms. Eighteen other people, many of whom are members of the siblings' family, have been hospitalized with flu-like symptoms. Twelve are in critical condition.