In a follow-up on the human infections with novel influenza A viruses found in Ohio, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported three additional cases in the past week.
Three persons, all attendees at the same agricultural fair, were infected with influenza A (H3N2) variant (H3N2v) viruses. All three patients were children younger than 18 years of age who reported direct exposure to swine in a fair setting during the week preceding illness onset. None of the three patients were hospitalized, and all have fully recovered from their illness.
No human-to-human transmission of these viruses has been identified. Public health and agriculture officials are investigating the extent of disease among humans and swine, but no increases in influenza-like illness in the community have been reported.
To date, a total of 15 (Texas [1] and Ohio [14]) human infections with H3N2v viruses and one (Ohio [1]) human infection with H1N2v virus have been identified during 2017.
When an influenza virus that normally circulates in swine (but not people) is detected in a person, it is called a “variant influenza virus.” For example, if a swine origin influenza A H3N2 virus is detected in a person, that virus will be called an “H3N2 variant” virus or “H3N2v” virus.
Related:
- Parasites 101: Swimmer’s itch
- Vibrio vulnificus: An interview with Dr Judy Stone
- Healthcare-associated infections: A discussion with Dr Rodney Rohde
- Vaccine refusal: What’s behind it and how we become better ambassadors for vaccination
- Can kids be too clean? An interview with ‘Let Them Eat Dirt’ coauthor, B. Brett Finlay, PhD
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and other prion diseases
