 In February 2004, avian influenza virus was detected in birds in Vietnam, increasing fears of the emergence of new variant strains.It is feared that if the avian influenza virus combines with a human influenza virus (in a bird or a human), the new subtype created could be both highly contagious and highly lethal.In October 2005, cases of the avian flu (the deadly strain H5N1) were identified in Turkey.