THE TURKISH Cypriot authorities are bracing themselves for a possible drop in tourism revenue after two dead chickens found in the north tested positive for the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus.
“We are worried. It [bird flu] could have an effect, not just on the north, but on the whole of the island,” Turkish Cypriot hoteliers head Turan Beydagli told the Cyprus Mail yesterday.
He warned that it would not only be the Turkish-controlled north that would lose out if the as yet limited outbreak spreads.
“Europeans don’t generally know how the division of the island works, so they will see the island as one. Therefore, if the Greek Cypriots use this against us politically, it will backfire on them as well.”
Economy and tourism ‘minister’ Dervish Deniz, however, remained optimistic, but conceded it was too early to tell what impact the virus would have.
“So far we have not seen an effect on tourism or on the economy as a whole. It is only the four or five large commercial chicken farms that are losing out, and that is purely because Turkish Cypriots are not buying chicken or eggs as much as before.” North Cyprus does not export chicken, so a newly imposed ban on imports of poultry into the EU from north Cyprus will not have an impact.
Deniz added he was confident the outbreak could be contained, particularly because of Cyprus’ warm climate.
“If we can contain it till April we’ll be fine because the virus is said to not survive in temperatures over 20 degrees Celsius.”
Turkish Cypriot health ‘minister’ Esref Vaiz also expressed confidence in the measures he says his department has taken since the bird flu scare began several months ago.
“We have done what we’ve had to do. What we are doing now is checking all the surrounding villages to make sure all domestic birds are confined so they cannot come into contact with wildfowl.”
Vaiz has now extended the surveillance zone around the village of Makrasyka (Incirli), where the two infected birds were found, from 3 to 10 km. But because the village lies so close to the Green Line separating the island’s Greek and Turkish Cypriot, part of the surveillance area lies within the Greek Cypriot side. Part also lies within the British Sovereign Base at Dhekelia.
Soldiers at the base say they are taking the Turkish Cypriot declaration of the surveillance area seriously.
Bases spokesman Crispin Coates said yesterday: “The (Turkish Cypriot) surveillance area does include part of the eastern sovereign bases area, and that area is under close observation.”
Coates was quick to stress, however, that the British were not taking instruction from the Turkish Cypriot authorities.
“We have had consultations with the Turkish Cypriot veterinary services, but the contingency plan we are implementing is that of the Cyprus Republic.”
Meanwhile the affected village remained calm yesterday. Nevruz Kavazlar, a housewife living in the village said, “There is no panic. We are sad that it turned up here, but we are glad that it was discovered.”
But one thing has changed Kavazlar said. “We used to wake up with the neighbour’s cockerel, but now we oversleep.”
