Chile: Swine Flu found in turkeys

[Jori]

PARIS (Reuters) - The outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus among turkeys in

Chile should not be a cause for alarm as animal cases remain minor

compared to the pandemic facing humans, the World Organization for

Animal Health said on Friday.

 

 

"This shouldn't be turned into a major event," said Dr Monique Eloit,

deputy director-general of the Paris-based OIE.

 

 

"We are facing a human pandemic...Cases in animals are more anecdotal

events," she told Reuters.

 

 

Chile's farming and livestock agency SAG announced on Thursday that

the H1N1 flu virus had been detected at two farms 75 miles west of the

capital Santiago, the first time the virus has been found outside

humans and pigs.

 

 

The spread of H1N1 to poultry was "not surprising" given that the

virus contains human, pig and avian strains, Eloit said, adding the

virus was likely transmitted via humans given the large number of

human cases in Chile.

 

 

After being informed of turkey cases by the Chilean authorities, the

OIE was awaiting detailed results in the coming days to assess the

characteristics and effects of the flu found in the birds, she said.

 

 

The OIE has opposed the use of the term "swine flu" in reference to

H1N1 because of the relatively small number of cases among pigs and

lack of clear evidence they transmitted the virus to humans.

 

 

Initial reports about swine flu prompted many countries to ban pork

meat and products imports from North America, although most of these

bans have since been lifted.

 

 

The H1N1 swine flu virus was first seen in March in Mexico and

California. Experts say at least 1 million people have been infected

in the United States alone, and in Chile the virus has killed 128

people and infected thousands more during the southern hemisphere

winter.

(Reporting by Gus Trompiz)

 

 

[Homemaker]

Oh, I hope they don't use this as leverage to come for our backyard flocks. I keep mine illegally, and some over-concerned neighbor would be sure to report me if they thought I was endangering the neighborhood.

 

This will probably give more power to those trying to pass the animal ID law.

[Christy]

"This shouldn't be turned into a major event," said Dr Monique Eloit,

deputy director-general of the Paris-based OIE.

 

 

"We are facing a human pandemic...Cases in animals are more anecdotal

events," she told Reuters.

Indeed no need to turn it into a major event but something to keep an eye on. Mutation, virus, avian/human/pig...

We are not that simple mizz Eloit.

 

Otoh, WHO will do anything to avoid panic. Perhaps she is right in "nothing to see here, walk along nicely ma'am" approach.

[Jori]

quote]

Indeed no need to turn it into a major event but something to keep an eye on. Mutation, virus, avian/human/pig...

We are not that simple mizz Eloit.

 

Otoh, WHO will do anything to avoid panic. Perhaps she is right in "nothing to see here, walk along nicely ma'am" approach.

 

 

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain, for I am the Great and Powerful Oz!!!

 

When I heard this yesterday afternoon on the 4:00 news it was just a blurb in passing. I found this on another site I'm on. I'm going to be stopping in to see the butch where I grew up the next time I go see mom & dad to see when their birds come from and get them there. Or maybe a trip to Amish Country - Cat, I feel a shopping trip!!!! Uh, um, I mean a exploratory mission to gather facts.

[TurtleMama]

This brings to the forefrontof my mind one of my main concerns regarding the H1N1 virus; that is, if it were to infect an flock of birds carrying H5N1 (avian influenza), could the two viruses combine and mutate since H1 carries avian genetic material? The idea of a mutated influenza with the communicability of H1 (and it is amazingly communicable) and the morbidity/mortality of H5 terrifies me. I don't know if it's probable, or even possible, but it's something that concerns me very much.

 

I guess it's another reason to keep prepping for pandemics.