Canada confirms pigs infected with H1N1 flu virus

Special Report:
World Tackles A/H1N1
Flu

OTTAWA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Canada confirmed the
world's first case of human-to-pig transmission of the A/H1N1 flu virus on
Saturday while urging against any bans of its products.

Some pigs in a farm in the western province of
Alberta has been found infected with the H1N1 flu virus and the virus may have
jumped from a farm worker to the animals, Brian Evans, with the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency, told a press conference in Ottawa.

The Canadian worker returned from Mexico on April 12,
and began work at an Alberta swine farm on April 14, he said.

"This person was exhibiting flu-like symptoms
following the return, and may have exposed swine on the farm to an influenza
virus," said Evans. "I can tell you that the traveler has recovered."

It was later confirmed that the pigs were, in fact,
infected with the same H1N1 virus spreading around the world.

"We have determined that the virus H1N1, found in
these pigs, is the virus which is being tracked in the human population," said
Evans.

The animals are now recovering, and the herd has been
placed in isolation.

Evans said it is not uncommon for influenza to jump
from humans to pigs. He also said there is no evidence humans can get H1N1 from
eating pork, and urged against any bans of Canadian products.

"I want to be clear: There is no food-safety concern
related to this finding," said Evans.

"The key here is that influenza viruses do not affect
the safety of pork," he added. "Therefore, we are calling on the international
community that they base their decisions on facts, not fear."

Scientists believe the H1N1 virus has been passed from human to human for some time. But even though the virus contains swine flu genes, the World Health Organization says there is no evidence pigs are passing the disease to humans.

Pigs infected with A/H1N1 flu in Canada

OTTAWA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Some pigs in Canada have been found to be infected with the A/H1N1 flu, Canadian media reported Saturday citing government sources.

This has been the first time that the H1N1 flu virus has been found in pigs, the Canadian Press said, adding federal health officials will announce the news later Saturday.

The pigs are from a farm in the western province of Alberta, they were thought to be infected by a farm worker who had recently been to Mexico and fell ill upon his return, the sources said. Full story

Canada confirmed H1N1 flu cases now at 73

OTTAWA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The total number of confirmed H1N1 flu cases in Canada has jumped to 73, with 21 new cases reported Saturday, local media reported. Full story

Mexico's confirmed cases of A/H1N1 flu rise to 443

MEXICO CITY, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said on Saturday that until Friday night there have been 1,105 tests to detect the influenza A/H1N1, among which 443 in the country were positive.

Out of the positive cases 427 patients are alive, while 16 died. Among the total of the deaths, 12 were women. Full story