THE World Health Organisation (WHO) says the pandemic influenza A/H1N1 virus has been found in turkeys in Chile and Canada, and in a few pet animals in the United States.

However, the world health body insists that these infections were isolated events and pose no special risks to human health.

’The virus is killed at normal cooking temperatures. No human infections have been linked to the consumption of properly prepared meat or animal products, or any other food items,’ the WHO stated on their website, www.who.int.

However, they are concerned about the virus mixing with the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus, which is currently found in poultry in several countries where the virus is endemic.

’While no one can predict how the H5N1 virus might behave under the pressures of a pandemic, all data to date have been reassuring,’ WHO said.

Most recently, WHO said authorities in Denmark reported a novel H3N2 influenza virus in mink on several mink farms. They added that when tests were done, the virus demonstrated a combination of human and swine genes that have not been identified previously in circulating influenza viruses.

’Testing of farm workers detected no spread of the virus to humans. However, the incident demonstrates the constantly evolving ecology of influenza viruses, the potential for surprising changes, and the need for constant vigilance, also in animals,’ the WHO stated.

Locally, there have been no reports of any animal getting infected.

The Ministry of Health is scheduled to hold a press briefing today to discuss the latest information regarding the spread of the virus in this country.