Chile confirmed in swine influenza virus in turkeys

Aug 22, 12:59 EDT



SANTIAGO DE CHILE (AP) - The Institute of Public Health confirmed on Saturday the preliminary study of agricultural organization in the country on the discovery of the virus in turkeys AH1N1 swine flu, which sparked international concern about the spread of the pandemic.

"Preliminary results of genetic analysis showed that the virus found is the same one that has circulated in our country this winter," said health institute in a statement.

He added that "when comparing the samples with the pandemic virus that has circulated AH1N1 Chile has 100% similarity in the gene H (hemagglutinin) and 100% agreement in nucleotides and amino acids.

The agency noted that the report should be complemented with consideration of the entire genome of the virus isolated by the Agriculture and Livestock Service, SAG, which found the disease in turkey breeders at two farms from a private company in La Calera, a town about 100 kilometers northwest of Santiago.

The final report will be available only from fines next week, said the Institute.

The discovery of swine influenza virus in turkeys was detected and preliminarily confirmed by SAG on Wednesday after the turkey meat producer reported a decrease in production of poultry.

The first examinations ruled out bird flu and then Wednesday night confirmed that it was the same virus that has wreaked havoc throughout the world and forced the World Health Organization, WHO, to declare the pandemic.

Evil has affected the middle of this month in the American continent to 105,882 people in 35 countries, with 1579 deaths in 22 countries.

In Chile, swine flu has led to the latest report on Tuesday, 128 deaths and 12,175 cases checked, although the Ministry of Health acknowledged that there are suspicions that the disease has attacked more than 353,000 Chileans reported cases which may have been contaminated. But the same report stated that maintaining the downward trend of the last four weeks.

None of the affected turkeys died.

Health authorities have called for calm with the appearance of the virus in turkeys. In its report on Saturday reiterated that the ISP there is no risk in consumption of turkey meat.

"The risk exists for people following this outbreak is less than that in contact with sick human beings," said Public Health Institute, an agency under the Ministry of Health.

In addition, both the company Soproval as the authorities stated that badly affected the breeding birds and already she was having an emergency on return to productive levels.

Samples taken in turkeys were sent abroad to both the WHO as the center of detection and disease prevention in Atlanta.