Bulgaria launched a bird flu prevention campaign on Tuesday following a rash of cases of the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus in neighbouring Turkey.

To prepare its citizens for possible outbreaks in the country, the Bulgarian authorities issued special instructions on how to deal with infections, said the Health Ministry

The publicity campaign includes general information on bird flu and advice on avoiding contact with birds, following strict hygiene and eating only well-cooked poultry products and eggs.

"The instructions will be publicized through regional health care inspectors, general practitioners, mayors and the media," the Health Ministry said in a statement. At least 50,000 leaflets will be distributed in rural areas.

Agriculture Minister Nihat Kabil said on Monday that Bulgaria is bracing itself for a spread of the deadly H5N1 strain of avian flu, warning that the nearest outbreak was only 500 km away from the Turkish-Bulgarian border and the situation there was extremely serious.

About 70 people have been hospitalized with bird flu symptoms in Turkey, and so far four of them have been confirmed by the United Nations' health agency as suffering from the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus.

Migratory birds remain a real threat to Bulgaria, said Kabil. The white forehead geese, over 25,000 of which fly across Bulgaria every winter, are considered to be the most dangerous virus carriers.

Kabil said more measures will be taken to prevent the spread of the virus, including the buying of specialized isolation clothes for veterinarians and the launch of a compensation fund of around 8.69 Million Euro (10.51 million US dollar) for bird feeders who have to cull their stock.

The government will continue to strengthen controls on poultry imports, said the minister.

Bulgaria has banned poultry imports from its neighbors, forbidden the hunting of wild birds, told farmers to keep domestic fowl indoors and is conducting regular surveillance in wetland areas on the migratory bird population.

Officials are also conducting strict checks and disinfecting cars crossing its border from Turkey, where local authorities say three children died from bird flu last week.

So far no bird flu cases have been registered in Bulgaria.