Thursday, May 14, 2009

Australia watching flu risk for Indonesian pigs

Australia is worried that the Indonesian pig population could be struck down with a new form of flu.

Senator Joe Ludwig has told Federal Parliament that after Canadian pigs caught swine flu from humans, there's now concern swine flu could spread to Indonesia and mix with bird flu within the pig population.

"Evidence to date about the bird flu virus is that its ability to mix with other viruses is limited compared with the ability of seasonal viruses - that is, those which are H1 and H3 - to mix," he said.

"Nonetheless, this is an important concern that needs close monitoring

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