Dover Veterinary Hospital Blog
State Fairs and Flu Viruses
From CIDRAP News:
A reminder of the possibility of transmission of various flu viruses
from pigs at state fairs.
The recent activity is in the Midwest but precautions such as hand
sanitizing after interactions with pigs at the fairs is recommended.
9/14/12: The number of swine-origin H3N2 (variant
H3N2, or H3N2v) influenza cases in the United States has climbed by 9
in the past week, to 305, and another rare swine-origin variant,
H1N1v, has cropped up in Missouri, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) reported today.
The case in Missouri involves an H1N1v virus carrying the M (matrix)
gene from the pandemic 2009 H1N1 (pH1N1) virus, marking only the
second finding of such an isolate, the CDC reported. The previous case
was reported in Wisconsin in December 2011; 12 other H1N1v cases
(without the pH1N1 M gene) have been reported since 2005, CDC reports
show.
The Missouri case was found because of increased surveillance for
H3N2v cases, the CDC said in its weekly flu update. The patient got
sick after contact with pigs and has since recovered. The agency gave
no further details about the case.
The CDC's report on the H1N1v case in Wisconsin in December 2011 said
similar viruses had been found in US swine since 2010 and that the
strain was susceptible to antiviral drugs.
The CDC said the total number of variant flu cases detected since July
has now reached 309. That includes the 305 H3N2v cases, the Missouri
H1N1v case, and three H1N2v cases that were recently reported in
Minnesota. All three strains contain the pH1N1 M gene.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Department of Health reports that the number
of H1N2v cases has increased to four, as one case previously listed as
probable has been confirmed. The CDC says that when state and CDC case
counts disagree, the state numbers should be considered more accurate.
The 305 H3N2v cases, most of which involved people exposed to pigs at
county and state fairs, were scattered across 10 states. New cases
were reported this week in Michigan, 1 (6 total); Minnesota, 2 (4);
Ohio, 4 (106); and Wisconsin, 2 (20). Indiana continues to lead the
list with 138 cases.
A reminder of the possibility of transmission of various flu viruses
from pigs at state fairs.
The recent activity is in the Midwest but precautions such as hand
sanitizing after interactions with pigs at the fairs is recommended.
9/14/12: The number of swine-origin H3N2 (variant
H3N2, or H3N2v) influenza cases in the United States has climbed by 9
in the past week, to 305, and another rare swine-origin variant,
H1N1v, has cropped up in Missouri, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) reported today.
The case in Missouri involves an H1N1v virus carrying the M (matrix)
gene from the pandemic 2009 H1N1 (pH1N1) virus, marking only the
second finding of such an isolate, the CDC reported. The previous case
was reported in Wisconsin in December 2011; 12 other H1N1v cases
(without the pH1N1 M gene) have been reported since 2005, CDC reports
show.
The Missouri case was found because of increased surveillance for
H3N2v cases, the CDC said in its weekly flu update. The patient got
sick after contact with pigs and has since recovered. The agency gave
no further details about the case.
The CDC's report on the H1N1v case in Wisconsin in December 2011 said
similar viruses had been found in US swine since 2010 and that the
strain was susceptible to antiviral drugs.
The CDC said the total number of variant flu cases detected since July
has now reached 309. That includes the 305 H3N2v cases, the Missouri
H1N1v case, and three H1N2v cases that were recently reported in
Minnesota. All three strains contain the pH1N1 M gene.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Department of Health reports that the number
of H1N2v cases has increased to four, as one case previously listed as
probable has been confirmed. The CDC says that when state and CDC case
counts disagree, the state numbers should be considered more accurate.
The 305 H3N2v cases, most of which involved people exposed to pigs at
county and state fairs, were scattered across 10 states. New cases
were reported this week in Michigan, 1 (6 total); Minnesota, 2 (4);
Ohio, 4 (106); and Wisconsin, 2 (20). Indiana continues to lead the
list with 138 cases.
