News Reports for August 18, 2012

US: New swine flu strain has sickened more than 200 in half-dozen states

EVANSDALE, Iowa - The H3N2v strain of swine flu, which has sickened more than 200 people in a half-dozen states this month, and other variants of the disease is why Vanderburgh County hog farmer Brian Schmitt keeps his herd quarantined. By keeping people away from his hogs and not allowing any that are taken off his property to return, Schmitt lessens the chances his animals will get sick.

First identified last summer, the H3N2v strain of the influenza virus showed up earlier this month in hogs being shown at county fairs north of Cincinnati, Ohio. Since then some fairs have canceled hog shows in an effort to prevent the virus from spreading. At the recent Indiana State Fair, a swine show was canceled, and some 4-Hers were asked to take their pigs home after a few hogs were recorded with high temperatures.

The virus is normally transmitted only from hog-to-hog, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but people who are in proximity to sick animals can sometimes develop the flu. Transmission of the virus is most likely to occur, according to the CDC, when an infected pig coughs or sneezes and droplets with influenza virus in them spread through the air. Some evidence also indicates a person might get infected by touching something that has virus on it and then touching his own mouth or nose. A third way to possibly get infected is to inhale dust containing influenza virus.

As of Friday, the CDC reported the development of 225 cases of H3N2v influenza in humans nationwide during August. Of those, 138 cases had been reported in Indiana, 72 in Ohio and three in Illinois. So far, according to the CDC, transmission of the flu has been only from animal to human and no instances of human-to-human transmission have been reported.

Swine influenza virus is common throughout pig populations worldwide. Continued: http://www.courierpress.com/ne...

(Note: This article says half dozen states but it's actually in more states than that. Cases of H3N2v have been found in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maryland Hawaii and West Virginia. Kentucky is reporting a few cases of seasonal flu but I think it is actually H3N2v.)

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 @ Sat Aug 18, 2012 at 06:25:08 AM UTC

India: Despite death, H1N1 on the way out, say experts (Maharashtra)

MUMBAI: The H1N1 influenza virus may have claimed the life of a 57-year-old woman from Kanjurmarg on Thursday but civic authorities are certain that the virus is on its way out this season. Experts (Snip) feel it will be circulating like other seasonal viruses and may make a comeback during winter.

Head of BMC's epidemiology cell (Snip) assured comorbid conditions like hypertension and diabetes had a role to play in the death of the Kanjurmarg resident. "Otherwise we are seeing a decline in the number of positive cases. As against days in July when we had 18-19 positive cases in a day, now we are seeing one or two positive cases per day. (Snip)

(Snip) it had affected seven people in March. The count of positive cases rose to 15 in April dipping to five in May again and jumping to 35 in June with the onset of the monsoon. It peaked in July when 151 cases were reported. So far, in the month of August, the virus has affected 64 people and claimed two lives. (Snip)

The H1N1 influenza virus's resurgence this season, say experts, should be studied in detail. For the virus has affected over 700 people and claimed 40 lives in the state. Dr Randeep Guleria of New Delhi's AIIMS said, "Many pockets in the country reported cases and deaths this year. The virus has typically been affecting the upper respiratory tract and in certain cases moving to the lower tract involving the lungs. It is in such cases that lack of treatment could prove fatal," he said. "But, the behaviour of the virus this year needs to be studied and checked whether there has been any mutation," he said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes...

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 @ Sat Aug 18, 2012 at 06:30:47 AM UTC

India: Four more test positive for H1N1 (Maharashtra)

PUNE: (Snip) This month, the city has reported 29 positive cases and two deaths so far.

"The condition of all the four, two men and two women, is stable. (Snip) A 63-year-old woman from Tadiwala Road has been admitted to Naidu Hospital. A 57-year-old woman who tested positive is from Aurangabad, while the other two patients are from Janata Vasahat.

The state has witnessed a rise in the number of H1N1 infections. There has been a five-fold increase in the number of throat swabs received by the National Institute of Virology (NIV) here for the H1N1 virus tests this month. http://timesofindia.indiatimes...

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 @ Sat Aug 18, 2012 at 06:40:49 AM UTC

US: Illinois sees third case of new strain of swine flu

SPRINGFIELD - A 5-year-old girl has contracted a new strain of swine flu, becoming the third Illinois case of the illness. The Logan County girl came into direct contact with hogs at the Logan County Fair and the Illinois State Fair. She developed flu symptoms on Monday.

Logan County health officials say the girl was not hospitalized and is recovering at home.

The Illinois Department of Health has confirmed two other cases of the new flu strain, also called H3N2v influenza. Those cases also involved children who attended agricultural fairs in central Illinois. Continued: http://www.pjstar.com/free/x10...

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 @ Sat Aug 18, 2012 at 06:46:13 AM UTC

US: New flu strain directly connected to sick pigs (Pennsylvania)

The Pennsylvania State Department of Health announced Friday at least four people have been infected with a new strain of swine flu after attending the Huntingdon County Fair. So far they believe all cases were discovered in youth participants of the fair but they're urging anyone who thinks they may have been infected to seek medical treatment.

The new strain is known as H3H2v and it's directly related to pigs. But both the state health and agriculture departments emphasized it's not possible to become infected by preparing or eating pork. They said it's also not transmitted between humans. (Snip)

"All of the evidence demonstrates that this is only being acquired from direct contact with pigs," said Dr. Stephen Ostroff of the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

But the State Department of Agriculture told 6 News that all animals were checked out before the Huntingdon County Fair and all things were a go. Continued: http://www.wjactv.com/news/new...  

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 @ Sat Aug 18, 2012 at 06:58:22 AM UTC

what evidence?

"All of the evidence demonstrates that this is only being acquired from direct contact with pigs," said Dr. Stephen Ostroff of the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

That is PR-speak if I ever heard it - yes, they are asking only those who feel flu-ish and have had contact with pigs to report in - so, duh!  

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by: Cathy M @ Sat Aug 18, 2012 at 13:47:15 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Fargo, ND (WDAY TV) -- The upcoming flu season could pack more of a punch this year.

Minnesota and North Dakota were lucky last year with low numbers of flu cases. But with two new strains expected to make the rounds, flu cases could rise back to normal rates. Vaccines targeting the new strains are already available.

John R. Baird, health officer, says, "it's very hard to predict the upcoming flu season. So, we (Snip) try to get people to get their flu shots (Snip)

The vaccine may not protect people from the threat of a swine flu variation transmitted through direct contact with pigs. http://www.wday.com/event/arti...

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 @ Sat Aug 18, 2012 at 07:05:15 AM UTC

H3N2v Coles County Cases Increase In Illinois

Recombinomics Commentary

A second case of flu transmitted by contact with swine was confirmed by Coles County health officials

Cathie Reynolds, nursing director of the Coles County Health Department, said tests now show that two children who attended the Coles County Fair and visited its livestock barns contracted the H3N2v flu virus. She said tests results are pending on two other children who also visited the fair's livestock areas and showed flu symptoms.

In addition to the two confirmed cases, tests showed that two children and one adult did not contract the H3N2v virus, Reynolds said.

The above comments indicate the number of H3N2v cases linked to the Coles County Fair in Illinois was significantly higher than the two confirmed cases cited above.  ILI is rare in Illinois in August, and local health departments frequently use commercial rapid tests.

There were more than 200 ILI cases linked to the Gallia Junior County Fair and a rapid test yielded 69 cases that were influenza A positive (and testing of a subset confirmed H3N2v in 11).  The 39.5% positive rate is likely near the sensitivity of this assay.  The CDC recently demonstrated the poor performance of commercial rapid tests which failed to detect H3N2v when tested against purified virus which was at a level that was markedly higher than the level in most clinical samples.

Thus, it is likely that the 3 cases who tested negative were also positive (the sensitivity of the Illinois samples would then be 40%, matching the sensitivity of the rapid test in Ohio).

(Snip)

Today the CDC increased the number of Illinois H3N2v cases to three, but it is unclear if the announced cases were all from Coles County, or included a confirmed case in Logan County which was announced tonight in media reports. http://www.recombinomics.com/N...

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 @ Sat Aug 18, 2012 at 07:17:33 AM UTC

3rd confirmed case

is a 5 y/o girl from Logan County.

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 @ Sat Aug 18, 2012 at 07:19:30 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Vietnam: Bird flu breaks out in Thanh Hoa

Bird flu has broken out in three districts of Thanh Hoa province and thousand of birds have been culled.

The disease was discovered in Quang Ngu village, Sam Son town (Snip) on August 18.

(Snip) after it was detected on July 24, the authorities sent blood samples for testing, which came back positive for the H5N1 virus. Quang Ngu has since destroyed more than 300 birds.

Bird flu outbreaks have also been reported in three villages in Hau Loc district over the period of a week and more than 13,000 birds have been culled.

These localities have (Snip) sent working groups to be on duty around the clock to prevent sick birds from being transported outside the area. http://www.tuoitrenews.vn/cmli...

Map link: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl...

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 @ Sat Aug 18, 2012 at 14:07:59 PM UTC

Please post new news stories to...

News Reports for August 19, 2012

Thank you!

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by: AlohaOR @ Sun Aug 19, 2012 at 04:49:16 AM UTC