Chile has detected the H1N1 swine flu virus in turkeys, the first time the virus has been found outside humans and pigs, but authorities said there was no indication the disease had spread to other parts of Chile.
The country’s farming and livestock agency, SAG, said on Thursday the flu outbreak had been controlled at the two farms 120km (75 miles) west of the capital, Santiago. It added that it had notified the World Organisation for Animal Health.
“We call on the public to consume turkey products with confidence,” a SAG statement said.
It added that laboratory results ruled out the presence of the H5N1 bird flu virus.
The Geneva-based World Health Organisation (WHO)declared H1N1 a full pandemic in June.
The virus has spread to some 180 countries, causing at least 1,462 laboratory-confirmed deaths. The WHO says the pandemic is unstoppable.
The H1N1 swine flu virus was first seen in March in Mexico and California.
Experts say at least one million people have been infected in the US alone.
Genetic tests show the virus appears to have originated in pigs, but it is now spreading from human to human.
In Chile, the H1N1 virus has killed 128 people and infected 12,175 during the southern hemisphere’s winter.
Chilean authorities said the farms near the port city of Valparaíso were placed under quarantine on August 13th as a precaution after turkey producers reported anomalies in the output of eggs. A little later, laboratory results confirmed the H1N1 virus infections.
Authorities did not say how many animals were infected, but claimed there was no evidence the virus had spread to other parts of the country.
The head of the WHO, Margaret Chan, said this week that the world must remain on guard against the H1N1 flu.
It has been mild so far, but could become more serious as the northern hemisphere heads into winter.
Early reports of swine flu prompted many countries to ban imports of pork meat and its products from North America.
Most countries later lifted the bans after world animal health authorities said there was no evidence that animals played a role in the spread of the virus.