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Message: Chile confirms swine flu in turkeys

Chile confirms swine flu in turkeys

posted on Aug 21, 2009 11:58AM
Chile confirms swine flu in turkeys

(AP) – 1 hour ago

SANTIAGO — Swine flu has jumped to birds, possibly opening a whole new chapter in the global epidemic.

Chile's health ministry says it confirmed that the virus jumped from people to turkeys at two farms outside the city of Valparaiso. Authorities ordered a complete quarantine Friday and alerted the World Health Organization.

Some illness was suspected at the farms owned by the Sopraval company after egg production dropped this month. Samples were taken and confirmed Thursday to be the same influenza virus now circulating in humans around the world - a mixture of human, pig and bird genes.

Deputy health minister Jeannette Vega tells Chile's radio Cooperativa on Friday that the farms have been quarantined, and that turkeys remain safe to eat.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hquZVDltVywSWT3jTcx-0dxa4N7AD9A7AQ7O0

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