October 23, 2009

Canada's Hybrid Turkeys Inc. has confessed that it owns a flock of 3,000 breeder turkeys that has been infected with the AH1N1 virus.

Hybrid Turkeys said the birds were infected by an employee, and that several employees had reported mild cold-like symptoms and sought medical attention.

The virus was detected when the company began looking for the reason behind a drop in egg production. There were no other symptoms and the birds did not go off either feed or water.

There is another barn on the same premises but there are no egg production problems there, said company veterinarian Dr. Helen Wojcinski.