Chilean officials say tests show that the H1N1 virus has infected turkeys on two farms near that country's port city of Valparaiso. A top U.N. animal health expert says the infected turkeys have suffered only mild effects, easing concern about a potentially dangerous development. Chile's turkey meat remains safe to eat. The farms have been quarantined.
The farms' owner, Sopraval, alerted the Agriculture Ministry after egg production dropped this month. After initial tests on four samples, the Agriculture and Health ministries confirmed a match with the subtype A/H1N1 2009 virus. Chile is sending some samples abroad for more genetic sequencing to confirm that it matches the pandemic strain. Meanwhile, officials are acting to contain the outbreak by limiting the turkeys' contact with people and wildlife.
Officials say most countries may see the number of H1N1 virus cases double every three to four days for several months until peak transmission is reached.
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