CDC, WHO Tracking New Influenza Virus in USA, S-OtrH3N2

[Laidback Al]

CDC, WHO Tracking New Influenza Virus in USA, S-OtrH3N2

Allnurses readers should be aware that a new influenza virus, S-OtrH3N2, has infected 10 individuals in the US since July 2011. It is primarily infecting children, although none of the cases have died. The first seven cases this year were infected by primary or secondary contacts with pigs. But in mid-November, three children in an Iowa day care were infected with no known contact with pigs. It appears that the Iowa cluster represented human-to-human transmission. How this will play out as a novel influenza strain remains to be seen.

CDC link for the Iowa cluster:http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm60d1123a1.htm?s_cid=mm60d1123a1_x

Helen Branswell article: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/health/who-trying-to-hit-the-sweet-spot-in-responding-to-puzzling-new-flu-virus-134525253.html

Map of CDC reported cases in the USA since 2009 from:

from: http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=177008

[Laidback Al]

In the weekly Fluview update published by the CDC, two new cases are reported with novel influenza A infections. These are strains circulating in swine, but neither of the children were exposed to swine.

Novel Influenza A Viruses:Two human infections with novel influenza A viruses were detected in children from two states (Minnesota and West Virginia).

One patient was infected with a novel influenza A (H1N2) virus and one patient was infected with a novel influenza A (H3N2) virus. Both patients have recovered from their illnesses. While both viruses are known to circulate in U.S. swine, there was no close contact with pigs reported preceding illness onset in either case. Both states have been investigating case contacts and sources of exposure, however, no additional confirmed cases have been detected at this time. Additional information on these cases can be found in the CDC Have You Heard posting.

CDC is required to report all cases of human infection with novel influenza viruses - including swine influenza viruses -- to the World Health Organization (WHO) as part of the International Health Regulations (IHR). Domestically, CDC reports these cases in this report and on its website. Early identification and investigation of human infections with novel influenza A viruses is critical to evaluate the extent of the outbreak and possible human-to-human transmission. Additional information on influenza in pigs and swine-origin influenza infection in humans can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swineflu/.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/

The child infected with A(H3N2) was from West Virginia. The virus appears to be the same as the one that has infected 10 individuals as noted in the post above.

The second child, infected with the novel strain of A(H1N2), was from Minnesota. more at http://www.cdc.gov/media/haveyouheard/stories/novel_influenza.html

hat tip to alert at FluTrackers . . . .