Fwd: H3N2v Outbreak: Public Health Advisory

[Guest guest]

Just received this from the fine folks at the land Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. Kind of creepy as I don't recall ever supplying my email address to any government entity . . .

-BJ

From: Healthcare_Advisory@...Reply-to: Healthcare_Advisory-ctg0ieb6saaml7wq73axwvicxo6eam6a@...To: bjblackler@...Sent: 8/15/2012 11:10:00 A.M. Eastern Daylight TimeSubj: H3N2v Outbreak: Public Health Advisory

Novel Influenza A H3N2 Variant Virus: Public Health Advisory

August 15, 2012land State Health Alert M. Sharfstein, MDSecretary of Health & Mental Hygiene

Dear Bj ,Since July 12, 2012, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 153 cases of a novel influenza virus (swine-origin influenza A H3N2 variant [H3N2v], described in 2011) related to direct swine exposure in multiple states. All cases had classic influenza symptoms; there were no deaths, hospitalizations, or sustained human-to-human transmission. No land cases have been identified, although statewide surveillance indicates sporadic cases of seasonal influenza. Novel influenza virus is reportable in land.The land Department of Health and Mental Hygiene advises:

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H3N2v has not yet been identified in land.

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Thus far, H3N2v has exhibited similar severity of illness as seasonal influenza.

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H3N2v is susceptible to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).

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H3N2v is substantially different from human influenza A (H3N2) viruses and is not included in the 2012-2013 vaccine, which is not expected to provide substantial immunity to H3N2v.

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Commercially available rapid influenza diagnostic tests may not accurately detect the virus. That is, negative rapid tests do not exclude a diagnosis of H3N2v or any influenza virus infection. A positive rapid test for influenza A cannot confirm H3N2v because the rapid test cannot distinguish between influenza A virus subtypes and H3N2v.

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Clinicians suspecting influenza in patients with recent (past 7 days) swine exposure should obtain a nasopharyngeal swab or aspirate, place specimen in viral transport medium, then contact their local health department to arrange transport to the State Public Health Laboratory.

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Surveillance at the State Laboratory is ongoing to presumptively identify H3N2v should it occur in land. Confirmatory diagnosis is via reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in a public health laboratory.

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Patients should be reminded to thoroughly wash hands before and after touching animals, to avoid ill swine, to stay home when sick, and to obtain seasonal influenza vaccine to protect from the most common strains of influenza.

Related Resources: Letter to land Cliniciansland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Information on Swine Influenza/Variant Influenza VirusesCenters for Disease Control and PreventionInterim Information for Clinicians about Human Infections with H3N2v VirusCenters for Disease Control and PreventionInterim Guidance on Specimen Collection, Processing, and Testing for Patients with Suspect Influenza A(H3N2)v Virus InfectionCenters for Disease Control and PreventionCompendium of Measures to Prevent Disease Associated with Animals in Public Settings, 2011National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians Sincerely,

M. Sharfstein, MDSecretary of Health & Mental HygieneFrom the land Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

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