News Reports for August 5, 2012

US: CDC Watching Variant H3N2 (Swine Flu) as Cases Climb

The number of variant swine-origin H3N2 (H3N2v) influenza cases in the United States has reached 16 in the past 3 weeks and 29 in the past year, prompting health officials to watch the virus closely for any increase in its now-limited ability to spread from person to person, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today.

The agency said 15 of the 16 recent cases have been in people, mostly children, who visited or were involved in county fairs, and the 16th case was in a farmer who has pigs. All the recent patients have recovered without hospitalization, though three of the earlier cases involved inpatient care, the CDC said. "Twenty-nine cases is a significant number of detections of this type of virus in recent years," Joseph Bresee, MD, of the CDC's Influenza Division, said at a press conference today.

The virus contains the M, or matrix, gene from the 2009 H1N1 flu virus, he noted, adding, "This may confer increased transmissibility to and among humans compared to other variant influenza viruses."

Of the 29 cases in the past year, three that occurred last fall and winter are believed to have involved limited person-to-person transmission, Bresee said.

The illness caused by H3N2v is impossible to distinguish clinically from seasonal flu, he said. "I think the difference between this virus and seasonal viruses is that this virus doesn't spread efficiently in humans," he commented. "It's still principally a swine virus, so when it affects humans it can cause illness but it doesn't seem to have onward spread."

(Snip)

"This virus may be circulating widely in US swine at this time," the CDC said in a report released today. And at the press conference, Lisa Ferguson, DVM, of the US Department of Agriculture, said the virus has been found in pigs in 11 states.

Cases by state:

The latest 16 cases include 1 in Hawaii, 5 in Indiana, and 10 in Ohio. All but one of these-the 10th Ohio case-were reported previously. The CDC said all five Indiana cases were related to county fairs, and all 10 Ohio cases likewise were associated with a fair, identified previously as the Butler County Fair. The Hawaii case, reported Aug 1, was in a Maui resident.

Today's CDC report said the overall H3N2v case count by state since July 2011 includes Hawaii, 1; Indiana, 7; Iowa, 3; Ohio, 10; Maine, 2; Pennsylvania, 3; Utah, 1; and West Virginia, 2.

It remained unclear today whether the Maui patient had any exposure to pigs. Bresee said no link between the Hawaii cases and other recent cases has been found. "From the epidemiologic investigation we don't have a link between humans or pigs in Hawaii and humans or pigs in Indiana and Ohio," he said. Continued:  http://www.dailydisruption.com...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

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by: Carol@SC @ Sun Aug 05, 2012 at 04:48:39 AM UTC

US: State Fair officials urge hand washing amid swine flu concerns (Wisconsin)

Wash your hands. That's the message from the Wisconsin State Fair and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as public health officials monitor a new strain of swine flu.

"It's always a concern," the fair's agriculture director, Brian Bolan, said of the potential for viruses to spread.

In the United States, there have been 29 human cases of a new strain of swine flu in the last year, including 12 confirmed last week, according to the CDC. Ten of the cases from last week were linked to a state fair in southwest Ohio. Two pigs were sent home from the Ohio State Fair last week.

Bolan said there have not been any problems with sick pigs at the fair as of Saturday afternoon.

None of the 29 cases reported since July 2011 occurred in Wisconsin. Seven were in Indiana and three were in Iowa.

Human cases of the new strain have had signs and symptoms of influenza such as fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat and muscle aches, according to the CDC. Three people with high-risk conditions have been hospitalized.

The new strain also has a gene found in the 2009 H1N1 virus that resulted in a pandemic. The CDC said this may allow the new strain to be more transmissible from pigs to people and from person to person. Continued: http://www.jsonline.com/news/m...

(Note: If there are many more H3N2v human cases tied to fairs then I expect a nationwide halt to bringing in pigs to show at county and state fairs. JMO)

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

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by: Carol@SC @ Sun Aug 05, 2012 at 05:17:16 AM UTC

US: New cases of influenza A H3N2 variant virus confirmed by CDC

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been monitoring an Influenza A H3N2 variant virus [A(H3N2)v] which has infected pigs and humans. A variant virus is an influenza virus which normally circulates and causes illness in pigs, however, once a human is infected, it is called a "variant" influenza virus. Most of the human cases have been mild. The CDC has been watching this virus because some of the cases had contact with pigs, but some cases appear to have been transmitted between people. At this time the CDC has been recommending that healthcare workers continue to follow the infection control principles and actions for seasonal influenza.

Infectious Disease News has reported "CDC confirms new cases of influenza A H3N2 variant virus." CDC officials said during a press briefing on Friday twelve new cases of influenza A H3N2 variant virus have been identified in Hawaii, Indiana and Ohio in the past week, making 29 total cases since the virus was first detected in humans in July 2011. Joseph Bresee, MD, medical epidemiologist in the influenza division at the CDC, has said in a media briefing "Each of the 16 total cases identified in the past two weeks reported contact with swine. In 15 of these cases, contact with the swine occurred while attending or exhibiting swine at an agricultural fair. All cases have been laboratory-confirmed by the CDC."  Continued: http://www.examiner.com/articl...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

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by: Carol@SC @ Sun Aug 05, 2012 at 05:29:11 AM UTC

US: State opens call center for flu questions (Indiana)

Health officials have confirmed six additional cases of variant influenza A, bringing the total case number to 11 statewide. All cases have been linked to swine. The Indiana State Department of Health and local health departments continue to investigate potential new cases.

The additional cases were identified in Tipton, Jennings and La Porte counties. Jackson County has also experienced four cases.

"We haven't seen any transmission from person to person at this point," said State Health Commissioner Gregory Larkin, M.D. "All of the confirmed cases have had direct contact with swine. As Hoosiers visit fairs around the state this summer, they should take extra care to practice thorough hand washing and avoid eating when around animals."

Also Friday, the state Department of Health opened a call center to answer questions about the influenza cases. Continued: http://heraldargus.com/article...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

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by: Carol@SC @ Sun Aug 05, 2012 at 05:38:22 AM UTC

Vietnam tightens border control due to bird flu fears

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked authorities, especially those in border provinces, to tighten inspections and control of poultry imports in an attempt to halt a bird flu epidemic.

"Development of the disease is becoming complicated in Vietnam and other countries in the world, urging measures to ensure better control of imported poultry, especially poultry that is smuggled into the country," (Snip)

(Snip) bird flu has re-emerged in 20 provinces and cities across the country since the beginning of this year. Small outbreaks have been reported in the provinces of Quang Binh, Hai Duong and Hai Phong during the past three weeks.

(Snip)

Last year, bird flu occurred in 22 provinces and cities in Vietnam, infecting over 110,000 poultry (Snip) http://www.worldpoultry.net/ne...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

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by: Carol@SC @ Sun Aug 05, 2012 at 05:44:59 AM UTC

ProMED: Influenza (63): WHO update

Influenza Update Number 165

Summary

- Most countries in the northern temperate zone have stopped weekly reporting or moved over to out of season surveillance schedules.

- In the tropical zone, the countries to report notable influenza activity are Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador and Panama in the Americas (influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and type B); Ghana and Madagascar in sub-Saharan Africa (influenza A(H3N2); southern China, Singapore and Viet Nam in Asia (A(H3N2)in China and Viet Nam, A(H3N2), A(H1N1)pdm09, and B in Singapore).

- The influenza season has continued in most temperate countries of the southern hemisphere for which there is data and appears to have peaked in Chile and South Africa, where many indicators have recently begun to decline. In contrast, very low numbers of detections have been reported throughout the last several weeks in Argentina. Rates of disease have continued to increase across Australia and New Zealand.

- Influenza A(H3N2) viruses were the most commonly reported type/sub-type in recent weeks across the Southern Hemisphere temperate region in Chile, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. However, the distribution is not uniform across Australia where influenza type B accounts for a significant portion of viruses detected in the Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Queensland. Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 is the most common influenza virus detected in Paraguay as well as neighboring areas of southern Brazil and the Plurinational State of Bolivia.

Continued with lot's more:  http://www.promedmail.org/dire...


Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

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by: Carol@SC @ Sun Aug 05, 2012 at 06:29:08 AM UTC

Australia: Flu alert for Hunter -- three deaths trigger quarantine lockdown

New South Wales: Quarantine restrictions are in place at two Hunter disability and aged care facilities after three people are suspected of dying from a strain of flu. The deaths have prompted NSW opposition health spokesman Andrew McDonald to warn of a significant outbreak of influenza A, subtype H3N2.

More than 50 residents at Kanangra, in the grounds of Morisset Hospital, and Stockton Centre have been quarantined after showing symptoms of the potentially deadly flu.

It is understood the alarm was raised after two men, both in their 60s, from Kanangra, and a woman in her 40s, from Stockton, died in the past week after exhibiting flu-like symptoms. The latest death occurred at Stockton yesterday and triggered the NSW Ministry of Health to intervene and place both facilities under lockdown.

(Snip)

All residents at both centres were vaccinated against the flu this year but Dr McDonald said it was a great concern that the H3N2 vaccine was not completely effective. "It's a real worry when you have a highly vaccinated population that cannot be protected from a fatal respiratory illness," he said. "If 51 people have it then there is a potential for a significant outbreak."

"It's highly transmittable and there is a serious risk that this illness could become wider spread throughout the population. This incident requires an urgent investigation from public health."

Dr Durrheim said both facilities had very high immunisation coverage and staff were being careful to keep those affected apart from staff and other residents. Continued: http://www.katherinetimes.com....  

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

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by: Carol@SC @ Sun Aug 05, 2012 at 07:05:49 AM UTC

India: Swine flu cases rise to 246 in Mumbai (Maharashtra)

With four new swine flu cases detected on Sunday, the tally of infected patients has risen to 246 since January (Snip)

A 33-year-old male (Snip) a 32-year-old male (Snip) a 21-year-old fem (Snip) are seeking treatment for H1N1 virus on OPD basis.

Another 32-year-old female from Chembur has been hospitalized at KEM hospital in Parel. In the first week of August alone, 33 positive cases have been reported.

Last week, a 19-year-old boy in Chembur died of swine flu, making it the first H1N1 related death in the last two years in the city. http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

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by: Carol@SC @ Sun Aug 05, 2012 at 20:27:13 PM UTC

Please post new news stories to...

News Reports for August 6, 2012

Thank you!

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by: AlohaOR @ Mon Aug 06, 2012 at 04:28:35 AM UTC