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Swine Flu in Birds Identical to Strain in Humans, Chile Reports
2009-08-29 17:08:56.143 GMT
By Sebastian Boyd
Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) -- A strain of swine flu found on
turkey farms in Chile is the same as that which circulated in
humans over the southern winter, the country?s health ministry
confirmed today in an e-mailed statement.
The outbreak is the first confirmed transmission of swine
flu from humans to birds and the World Health Organization was
informed of the findings, the ministry said. Scientists are
concerned that the virus could combine with the H5N1 bird flu
virus, which kills half of all patients infected.
?The ministry reiterates that while this situation is
relevant because it provides evidence of transmission from
humans to birds, it doesn?t imply any risk to people?s health
and doesn?t call for any restriction on consumption of poultry
or eggs,? it said in the statement.
The H5N1 flu strain isn?t present in Chile, the United
Nation?s Food and Agriculture Organization said on its Web site
on Aug. 27. Were the virus to transfer to birds in Asian
countries where H5N1 bird flu does circulate, that would be more
worrying, it said.
The ministry sequenced a H1N1 flu found in two farms in the
country?s fifth region, it said. Sopraval SA, a Santiago-based
producer of poultry, beef and pork products, reported on Aug. 21
that the virus had been found in turkeys on two of the company?s
farms.
The farms remain quarantined and workers are being tested,
the ministry said.
Chile had more than 7,000 cases of swine flu in humans as
of July 6. Countries are no longer reporting individual cases.</pre>
Swine Flu in Birds Identical to Strain in Humans, Chile Reports
2009-08-29 17:08:56.143 GMT
By Sebastian Boyd
Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) -- A strain of swine flu found on
turkey farms in Chile is the same as that which circulated in
humans over the southern winter, the country?s health ministry
confirmed today in an e-mailed statement.
The outbreak is the first confirmed transmission of swine
flu from humans to birds and the World Health Organization was
informed of the findings, the ministry said. Scientists are
concerned that the virus could combine with the H5N1 bird flu
virus, which kills half of all patients infected.
?The ministry reiterates that while this situation is
relevant because it provides evidence of transmission from
humans to birds, it doesn?t imply any risk to people?s health
and doesn?t call for any restriction on consumption of poultry
or eggs,? it said in the statement.
The H5N1 flu strain isn?t present in Chile, the United
Nation?s Food and Agriculture Organization said on its Web site
on Aug. 27. Were the virus to transfer to birds in Asian
countries where H5N1 bird flu does circulate, that would be more
worrying, it said.
The ministry sequenced a H1N1 flu found in two farms in the
country?s fifth region, it said. Sopraval SA, a Santiago-based
producer of poultry, beef and pork products, reported on Aug. 21
that the virus had been found in turkeys on two of the company?s
farms.
The farms remain quarantined and workers are being tested,
the ministry said.
Chile had more than 7,000 cases of swine flu in humans as
of July 6. Countries are no longer reporting individual cases.</pre>