Thursday, June 25, 2009

AH1N1 viruses for the first time in pigs in Argentina

AH1N1 viruses for the first time in pigs in Argentina
YP
Globovision / ABN
25/06/2009 12:38:40 AM

The influenza A H1N1 virus was first detected in pigs in a pig production in Argentina, reported on Thursday the National Agrifood Health and Quality (SENASA) said in a statement.

The detection of an establishment located in the province of Buenos Aires (central-east) was made in the epidemiological surveillance activities carried out by the agency with other entities in the country, said the party.

Laboratory tests made in the Institute Malbrán confirmed the presence of the disease from samples isolated from pigs, which were delivered by technicians from the National Institute for Agricultural Technology (INTA).

After the screening, were banned entry or exit of animals from the farm, which was under observation, according to a press release, which did not specify the exact location of the establishment.

Marcelo Blumenfeld, a member of the Argentine Society of Infectious Diseases, said that the detection of influenza in a pig becomes relevant only because the strain is identified in the same animal that has triggered the pandemic.

"It's common for pigs to have the flu, there is no obligation to denounce it. Even as it is alarming that the H1N1 virus, because it is a common type of which many variants exist," he warned.

The specialist explained that there are numerous alternatives within the H1N1 virus since there are 16 different H1 and nine N1 can be combined with each other.


A total of 21 people died in Argentina affected by the influenza A was confirmed since the first case of the disease in the country on May 7, according to the last Wednesday of the official party newspaper, which reported 1391 positive cases, 967 process in addition to the laboratory.
hattip Shiloh

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