71 influenza A cases confirmed in county

Local health officials have confirmed 71 cases of the variant influenza A (H3N2v) virus in Monroe County this summer following the Monroe County Fair.
 
When it occurs in pigs, the virus is referred to as “swine flu” but is a different strain than the H1N1 influenza virus that caused a pandemic in 2009.

Monroe County Health Department Administrator Penny Caudill said local and state health officials, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are currently interviewing residents infected with the virus.

“It’s important for folks to remember this is a mild illness with symptoms similar to what we see with seasonal flu,” State Health Commissioner Gregory Larkin said in a press release. “Because this is a relatively new strain of flu, only first seen in July of last year, a vaccine is not yet available. However, you can help to protect yourself by practicing thorough and frequent hand washing and by being mindful not to eat around barn animals.”

Variant influenza A virus can be directly transmitted between people
and swine.

Human infections are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to live, infected pigs, such as in barns and livestock exhibits at fairs.

Though the Monroe County Fair has ended, Caudill said the Monroe County Health Department and the CDC are trying to determine if the virus can be transmitted from person to person.

“It really is spread from close contact with swine, and we haven’t to date seen any human-to-human transmission with this,” Caudill said. “Because it is relatively new in humans, we continue to monitor it to see what’s going on so we can learn more
about it.”

The virus is not spread through handling or consumption of pork products.
The confirmed cases in Monroe County account for more than half of those confirmed across Indiana this summer.

As of Friday, 129 cases of the virus were confirmed in the state, according to a press release from the Monroe County Health Department. That number could grow.

Variant influenza A symptoms typically include fever and respiratory
symptoms such as cough, sore throat and runny nose, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.

Other symptoms include body aches, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Symptoms might last anywhere from three to eight days.

IDSH has set up a call center to answer questions regarding the virus.
The call center, which is open from 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, can be reached at (877) 836-0011.

— Mark Keierleber