Patients wait to be seen by medical staff at emergency clinic in the eastern Turkish town of Dogubayazit

Turkish health officials say three more people have tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu.

Officials said Sunday the three cases were discovered in the capital of Ankara. They are the first human cases outside the far eastern Van province, where the disease killed a teenage brother and sister last week.

A World Health Organization team is in Turkey to assess the government's response to the disease. The WHO says all evidence so far shows the virus has come from sick birds and not through human contact.

The H5N1 virus has killed more than 70 people in Southeast Asia and China since 2003.

The WHO is assuring people they cannot catch bird flu from eating properly cooked poultry and eggs. WHO spokesman Ian Simpson tells VOA that thorough cooking will kill the virus. He also advises people to carefully clean food preparation areas.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.