BUENOS AIRES (Argentina) - H1N1 flu has been detected in numerous pigs at a farm near the Argentine capital, but the virus has not shown itself to be any deadlier to the animals than a normal flu, the government said on Friday.

Jorge Amaya, chief of the National Agricultural Health and Quality Service, told Mitre radio that about a quarter of pigs at the unidentified farm in Buenos Aires province were found to be infected.

Nevertheless, he said, 'Veterinarians are very worried because humans are infecting the animals'. Mr Amaya added that eating pork poses no danger to people.

Pork Producers' Association president Juan Uccelli said the farm would be closed down for an investigation of the H1N1 virus' evolution there.

H1N1 flu was previously found in pigs last month on a farm in Alberta, Canada. About 500 hogs were killed because a quarantine on the farm created overcrowding - not because they were sick, officials there said.

Argentina has seen a rise in H1N1 flu cases coinciding with the South American winter. Officials have confirmed 23 human H1N1 flu fatalities - the most of any nation on the continent - and at least 1,488 people infected.

But while health authorities are taking measures to contain the virus, they say it is not expected to be worse than the regular seasonal flu.

'Two thousand people die each year (in Argentina) from the common flu, and (H1N1 flu) is less deadly than the common flu,' said Juan Acuna Kunz, vice president of the congressional health commission, on Thursday. -- AP