Influenza A (H3N2)v (cont.)Medical Author:
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhDDr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications. Medical Editor:
Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP
Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACPMary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP is the Chair of the Department of Medicine at Michigan State University. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt Medical School, and completed her residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Indiana University. Medical Editor:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MDMelissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology. Update The above information was published in January; since then, the situation with the H3N2v virus has changed…again. In July 2012, the CDC noted a significant increase in the number of humans with H3N2v infections. The majority of patients were children or workers at state fairs or in the swine-raising industry, so most of the patients had an association with pigs. Studies have shown that many pig populations in several U.S. states are infected with the H3N2v virus. As of August 2012, to date, about 225 human infections with H3N2v have been reported (Indiana and Ohio have the highest number of H3N2v infections). The CDC suggests that the infection seems to be spreading from pigs to humans and has detected no easy transfer of the virus between humans. They do caution, however, that with the rapid genetic changes that can occur with influenza A viruses, human-to-human transmission may occur in the future, especially since the strain has acquired the M (matrix) gene from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus. Currently, there have been no deaths caused by this virus and only a few (eight) hospitalizations; the CDC currently thinks the clinical evidence suggests H3N2v produces illness no more severe than the seasonal flu. However, with the influenza A viruses like H3N2v, the CDC plans to keep a close watch on how the flu progresses this season. The following are the new CDC recommendations to avoid getting H3N2v infections from pigs: CDC Recommendations for People at High Risk
CDC Recommendations for People Not at High Risk
The CDC also points out that current seasonal flu vaccine will not protect individuals from H3N2v infection but does mention that antiviral drugs (listed above in the article) may be helpful in reducing or eliminating symptoms. Influenza A H3N2v may change in the future so this article topic may come around...again. REFERENCES: Last Editorial Review: 8/22/2012 |
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