Argentina’s government declared on Friday a nationwide animal health emergency following the discovery of the new H1N1 flu virus in at least one pig herd.

The flu strain has killed 137 people in the South American country during the Southern Hemisphere winter and the government has closed schools and urged Argentines to avoid crowded places to halt its spread.

“The contingency plan… allows for an increase in testing in pig farms and in slaughter houses in order to guarantee early detection,” the government’s official gazette said.

Argentina is one of the world’s biggest exporters of beef and other farm goods but not a significant exporter of pork products.

The emergency measure, which will also give officials extra funding to deal with the outbreak, was drawn up by the state-run Senasa agency, responsible for animal health and food safety.

Earlier this month, Senasa officials said workers at a pig farm in Buenos Aires province were suspected of having passed the new strain onto the animals.

That added weight to the theory that pigs can be infected by humans.

Another pig herd later tested positive for the virus although Friday’s statement only made mention of the first case.

The deadly new flu strain appeared earlier this year in Mexico and the United States but has since spread across the globe and the World Health Organization declared a pandemic last month in a bid to halt its spread.

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters)