New Swine Flu Strains Spreads Across the U.S.
There may be a new swine flu virus circulating across the nation. The CDC has reported that since August twelve people have been sickened with the influenza A H3N2 virus. The patients were located in Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Eleven of the twelve reported cases were in children. The latest cases involved two children who were in the same day care in West Virginia. So far, all diagnosed patients have recovered.
The CDC has requested that public health laboratories across the nation to be alert. If they come across cases of swine flu, they should report them to the CDC.
Officials say that the virus is likely transmitted from workers who contract the virus from pigs . Then, the virus spreads between humans.
This swine flu strain is different than the one that caused the global pandemic in 2009. During that year, the H1N1 virus infected between 43 and 89 million Americans. A total of 8,870 to 18,300 individuals died, reports ABC News.
The World Health Organization declared the pandemic over in August 2010.
Concerned individuals might want to consider getting a vaccination. The current flu vaccine includes the H3N2 virus as well as the H1N1 virus. The CDC specifically recommends that persons aged 6 months and above get the vaccine.
The CDC also encourages individuals to take preventative actions. Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze and wash your hands often. Individuals that are prescribed flu antiviral drugs should also take them, according to CBS News. Taking these steps can prevent the spread of disease.
The CDC website has additional information about the new swine flu (H3N2) strain. Their website also contains helpful tips about flu prevention.
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- New Swine-Origin Flu Cases Reported (MedPage Today)
- Swine Flu Vaccine Gets Ready for School (FindLaw's Law & Daily Life)
- Swine Flu Scams Rampant on Internet Warns FDA (FindLaw's Common Law)
- Non-Safety Related H1N1 Vaccine Recall (FindLaw's Common Law)