The BBC reports "Last week the H1N1 virus was found in turkeys on farms in Chile. The UN now says poultry farms elsewhere in the world could also become infected. Scientists are worried that the virus could theoretically mix with more dangerous strains. It has previously spread from humans to pigs. However, swine flu remains no more severe than seasonal flu..." [BBC News]

"...The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) expressed concern that other poultry farms around the world could become infected with the A(H1N1) virus, which had until now only been detected in humans and pigs. 'The current H1N1 virus strain is a mixture of human, pig and bird genes and has proved to be very contagious but no more deadly than common seasonal flu viruses,' the Rome-based agency said in a statement. 'However, it could theoretically become more dangerous if it adds virulence by combining with H5N1, commonly known as avian flu, which is far more deadly but harder to pass along among humans,' it said. The FAO noted that Chile does not have avian influenza, also known as bird flu. However, it added, 'In South-East Asia where there is a lot of the (avian) virus circulating in poultry, the introduction of H1N1 in these populations would be of a greater concern.'..." [Straits Times]

"...'Once the sick birds have recovered, safe production and processing can continue. They do not pose a threat to the food chain,' said FAO's interim Chief Veterinary Officer, Juan Lubroth. 'The reaction of the Chilean authorities to the discovery of H1N1 in turkeys - prompt reporting to international organisations, establishing a temporary quarantine, and the decision to allow infected birds to recover rather than culling them - was scientifically sound,' he said..." [The Hindu]