Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 12/2/09

USDA testing has confirmed the first case of H1N1 virus in a U.S. turkey flock. The infected flock is in the state of Virginia.

According to data posted on USDA's Web site, four samples collected on Nov. 20 and one collected on Nov. 23 all tested positive in initial rapid screening tests and so far one of those samples has been confirmed by further virus isolation testing.

The virus samples were taken from a turkey breeder flock because hens were experiencing a drop in egg production, a USDA spokeswoman told Meatingplace by email.

"There is a possibility that a worker, who was sent home ill with flu-like symptoms, could have infected the turkeys as a result of the artificial insemination processes, as the worker was a member of the insemination crew," the spokeswoman added.

The H1N1 virus was confirmed in swine at the Minnesota State Fair during August and in a commercial swine herd in Indiana during October.

The H1N1 flu does not infect pork or poultry and cannot be transmitted by eating pork or turkey.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.