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Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [swine H3N2]

somebodyoutthere

Well-known member
http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/52612017.html

TOPEKA -- (13 News) A Riley County child has been infected with a strain of swine influenza not commonly seen in humans, but has fully recovered following a mild illness. No other cases have been identified, but an investigation is underway.

The influenza strain that infected the child was identified as an H3N2 virus that commonly circulates in pigs in North America. It is different from the pandemic H1N1 virus, also of swine origin, that was first detected in the United States in mid-April.

?It is critical for people to understand that this H3N2 virus is not related to the pandemic H1N1 virus,? said Jason Eberhart-Phillips, Kansas State Health Officer and Director of Health at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). ?This is not a mutation or a recombination of the pandemic strain, and it does not appear at this time to be a threat to human health.?

The child was likely exposed to the virus during the Riley County Fair in late July, where the child had direct contact with pigs. The child later developed influenza-like symptoms and sought medical care. The child has fully recovered and no other family members have reported illness.

KDHE is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Riley County Health Department and the Kansas Animal Health Department to investigate this case.

KDHE and the local health department are working to determine if the Riley County Fair swine exhibitors, or their pigs, have been ill.

Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans, but human infections occur from time to time. Typically CDC has received reports of approximately one human infection with a swine influenza virus each year.

That number has risen slightly in the past few years. The increased number of reported cases this year is likely the result of increased influenza testing related to the H1N1 pandemic.

So far this year, 14 cases of human infections with swine influenza viruses have been reported in the United States. That number does not include the number of H1N1 cases, as the H1N1 virus has not been detected in swine in the U.S.

?Most instances of human infection with animal influenza viruses, like the swine H3N2 virus, do not result in human-to-human transmission,? Dr. Eberhart-Phillips said. ?However, each case needs to be fully investigated to be sure that the viruses are not spreading among humans.?

Most commonly, cases of human infection with swine influenza occur in people with direct exposure to pigs, he added.
 
Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

Swine flu jumping to humans near Fort Riley, KS???????????????
 
Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

Swine flu jumping to humans near Fort Riley, KS???????????????

Yeah, watch out for the pigs in that area...
 
Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

Swine influenza (H3N2) infection in a child and possible community transmission, Canada.

<!--AuthorList-->Robinson JL, Lee BE, Patel J, Bastien N, Grimsrud K, Seal RF, King R, Marshall F, Li Y.
Public Health and Provincial Laboratory (Microbiology), Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. jr3@ualberta.ca
An influenza A virus (H3N2) of probable swine origin, designated A/Canada/1158/2006, was isolated from a 7-month-old hospitalized child who lived on a communal farm in Canada. The child recovered uneventfully. A serosurvey that used a hemagglutination-inhibition assay for A/Canada/1158/2006 was conducted on 54 of the 90 members of the farm. Seropositivity was demonstrated in the index patient, 4 of 7 household members, and 4 of 46 nonhousehold members; none had a history of hospital admission for respiratory illness in the preceding year. Serologic evidence for this strain of swine influenza was also found in 1 of 10 pigs (12 weeks-6 months of age) on the farm. Human infection with swine influenza virus is underrecognized in Canada, and because viral strains could adapt or reassort into a form that results in efficient human-to-human transmission, routine surveillance of swine workers should be considered as part of pandemic influenza preparedness.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18258037
 
Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

The infection is believed to have ocurred in July...how much swine flu normally circulates in the summer?
 
Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

The infection is believed to have ocurred in July...how much swine flu normally circulates in the summer?
I need to double check, but I think that the PB2 in H3N2 triple reassortants is avian, so swine influenza in the summer is not all that unusual.
 
Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

The H3N2 in brackets in the title should be [swine H3N2].
 
Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

The child did have a pig contact. So they most likey caught it from the pig. But the riley, kansas thing is eery.
 
Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

The child did have a pig contact. So they most likey caught it from the pig. But the riley, kansas thing is eery.

It's a ghost story that writes itself.
 
Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

Yeah that's where 1918 was believed to have started. This is an exact repeat of 1918 right down to the locations. But one difference here is 1918 was a human/swine H1N1 virus. This one at least from the article apears to be a H3N2 swine virus. No human part that we know of. Sequences please.
 
Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

Swine influenza (H3N2) infection in a child and possible community transmission, Canada.

<!--AuthorList-->Robinson JL, Lee BE, Patel J, Bastien N, Grimsrud K, Seal RF, King R, Marshall F, Li Y.
Public Health and Provincial Laboratory (Microbiology), Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. jr3@ualberta.ca
An influenza A virus (H3N2) of probable swine origin, designated A/Canada/1158/2006, was isolated from a 7-month-old hospitalized child .....preparedness.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18258037

Source with date: 1: Emerg Infect Dis. 2007 Dec;13(12):1865-70

.
 
Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [swine H3N2]

do we have waves in pigs as in humans ?
Not necessarily in winter
 
Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [swine H3N2]

swine H3N2 is closer to human H3N2 than it is in H1N1.
So we should have some immunity.
That sort of immunity which prevents pandemics
with strains that circulate since years
 
Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

Yeah that's where 1918 was believed to have started. This is an exact repeat of 1918 right down to the locations. But one difference here is 1918 was a human/swine H1N1 virus. This one at least from the article apears to be a H3N2 swine virus. No human part that we know of. Sequences please.
There is a good chance that this is also a triple reassortant with a human PB1 from 1993 H3N2.
 
Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [H3N2]

......... This one at least from the article apears to be a H3N2 swine virus. No human part that we know of. Sequences please.

Emerg Infect Dis. 2006 Jul;12(7):1132-5. Links

Triple reassortant H3N2 influenza A viruses, Canada, 2005.

Olsen CW, Karasin AI, Carman S, Li Y, Bastien N, Ojkic D, Alves D, Charbonneau G, Henning BM, Low DE, Burton L, Broukhanski G.
Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicin, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA. olsenc@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu

Since January 2005, H3N2 influenza viruses have been isolated from pigs and turkeys throughout Canada and from a swine farmer and pigs on the same farm in Ontario. These are human/classical swine/avian reassortants similar to viruses that emerged in US pigs in 1998 but with a distinct human-lineage neuraminidase gene.

PMID: 16836834 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/...nel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
 
Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [swine H3N2]

1: J Virol. 2000 Sep;74(18):8243-51. Links

Evolution of swine H3N2 influenza viruses in the United States.

Webby RJ, Swenson SL, Krauss SL, Gerrish PJ, Goyal SM, Webster RG.
Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA.

During 1998, severe outbreaks of influenza were observed in four swine herds in the United States. This event was unique because the causative agents, H3N2 influenza viruses, are infrequently isolated from swine in North America. Two antigenically distinct reassortant viruses (H3N2) were isolated from infected animals: a double-reassortant virus containing genes similar to those of human and swine viruses, and a triple-reassortant virus containing genes similar to those of human, swine, and avian influenza viruses (N. N. Zhou, D. A. Senne, J. S. Landgraf, S. L. Swenson, G. Erickson, K. Rossow, L. Liu, K.-J. Yoon, S. Krauss, and R. G. Webster, J. Virol. 73:8851-8856, 1999). Because the U.S. pig population was essentially naive in regard to H3N2 viruses, it was important to determine the extent of viral spread. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays of 4, 382 serum samples from swine in 23 states indicated that 28.3% of these animals had been exposed to classical swine-like H1N1 viruses and 20.5% had been exposed to the triple-reassortant-like H3N2 viruses. The HI data suggested that viruses antigenically related to the double-reassortant H3N2 virus have not become widespread in the U.S. swine population. The seroreactivity levels in swine serum samples and the nucleotide sequences of six additional 1999 isolates, all of which were of the triple-reassortant genotype, suggested that H3N2 viruses containing avian PA and PB2 genes had spread throughout much of the country. These avian-like genes cluster with genes from North American avian viruses. The worldwide predominance of swine viruses containing an avian-like internal gene component suggests that these genes may confer a selective advantage in pigs. Analysis of the 1999 swine H3N2 isolates showed that the internal gene complex of the triple-reassortant viruses was associated with three recent phylogenetically distinct human-like hemagglutinin (HA) molecules. Acquisition of HA genes from the human virus reservoir will significantly affect the efficacy of the current swine H3N2 vaccines. This finding supports continued surveillance of U.S. swine populations for influenza virus activity.

PMID: 10954521 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10954521?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=1&log$=relatedarticles&logdbfrom=pubmed
 
Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [swine H3N2]

Pattern seems somewhat like human pandemic form. Regarding urging for vac's - note that source is PR blurb from vac company. (Same one that removed access to this information on their site. Good thing the Pigsite has it online.)

http://www.thepigsite.com/swinenews/7779/summertime-flus-swine-influenza-virus-never-takes-vacation
Summertime Flus - Swine influenza virus never takes vacation
IOWA - Research has proven it and experts have warned swine influenza virus (SIV) is a costly, year-round disease in US swine herds.

True, incidence may spike in fall and spring, but the virus still circulates and infects sows and pigs in summer. Backing off vaccination could actually cost producers more money in the long run.

In a recent study, the age of pigs infected with SIV cases submitted to the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Ames, were evaluated for the months of April through October, 2003. As in most years, the highest incidence of infection occurred in the fall with a lower peak in the spring.

"Interestingly, in the summer months of June, July and August, during which the total numbers of SIV cases were lower, the greatest number of cases observed is in 4- to 8-week-old nursery pigs," reports Dr. Bruce Janke, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Iowa State University. In contrast, more cases were observed in older pigs during the other months, particularly in the fall.

"There is no doubt that young pigs are experiencing flu in the summer months," he adds. Numbers from the University of Minnesota show a constant number of flu cases throughout the summer months as well.

"We see SIV all year," agrees Dr. Marie Gramer, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Minnesota. "There is never a month without flu."
Mounting Pressure

Additional data will be needed before the summer SIV spike in young pigs can be labeled a trend. It does, however, reinforce the message that SIV is a year-round disease demanding year-round attention. "Nursery pigs were the most commonly affected and diagnosed group with SIV during 2003," states Janke. He attributes some of the spike to the mixing of pigs from different parities. With numerous SIV strains operating simultaneously in swine herds, it becomes difficult to achieve similar immunity level in sows of varying parity.

For instance, parity 1 sows have lower antibody levels than parity 4 sows on the same vaccination program due to lack of herd exposure to circulating SIV strains.

"When we see 4- to 8-week-old pigs with SIV, it reflects a sub-optimal antibody transfer," says Janke. Maternal antibodies for SIV degrade at a standardized rate, notes Dr. Robyn Fleck, a technical service veterinarian at Schering-Plough Animal Health Corporation.

"However, pigs from parity 1 sows start with lower maternal antibody titers and, through normal degradation, become susceptible to SIV sooner than pigs from older sows that start with higher titers at birth," she explains.

In other words, everybody runs the race at the same speed but parity 1 pigs start out further down the track and reach the end of the race before everybody else.
Stay on Track

Year-round vaccination programs in sow herds help protect the pork producer's investment in his breeding herd.

"Swine producers understand and appreciate the value they receive in maintaining their SIV vaccination program in their breeding herds," notes Fleck. "SIV remains a disease challenge throughout the year." Even so, some producers are still tempted to eliminate SIV vaccinations in their growing pigs during the summer months.

"Producers who choose not to vaccinate their grow-finish pigs are trying to perform a balancing act between economic pressures and disease pressures," says Dr. Scanlon Daniels, Circle H Animal Health, LLC, Dalhart, Tex. "The ultimate cost of that plan depends on your tolerance of risk along with the PRRS and mycoplasma status of your swine herd." Not an easy balancing act when you consider the cost of SIV.
Source: PR Works - 24th June 2004
 
Re: Riley County Child Contracts Rare HN Virus [swine H3N2]

Source: http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayR...STORY=/www/story/08-10-2009/0005075171&EDATE=


H3N2 Influenza Unlikely to Spread Between Humans, K-State Infectious Disease and Diagnostics Experts Say; Swine Exhibits at Fairs are Safe With Proper Hygiene





MANHATTAN, Kan., Aug. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Seeing animals up close is an integral part of experiencing the state and county fairs that take place around the country each summer and fall. And with good hygiene, Kansas State University veterinary experts say fair visitors shouldn't worry about contracting diseases from animals.

"Be very attentive to good hygiene and wash your hands after contact with animals," said Gary Anderson, director of K-State's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. "We encourage people to visit animal exhibits at fairs as long as they take appropriate precautions."

A case of H3N2 influenza was reported in Riley County after a child apparently had direct contact with pigs at a county fair. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported that the child completely recovered.

K-State experts said people shouldn't worry excessively about contracting H3N2 from pigs. For one thing, attention to hygiene and proper hand washing are a good defense, they said. Another reason is that this virus does not appear to be particularly virulent for humans.

Not all influenza viruses are like the pandemic H1N1, which has the ability to easily spread from human to human. The K-State researchers said that although H3N2 can pass from pigs to humans, it has not been shown to pass from humans to humans easily. However, there is the potential that it could pass from people back to pigs. This is one reason why workers in swine operations wear masks and other personal protective equipment when working with the animals.

Also, the researchers said it should be emphasized that pork is safe to eat, even when influenza viruses have been involved.

"This H3N2 is a virus that doesn't appear to be particularly virulent for humans," Anderson said. "You could say that the person infected was a dead-end host because it didn't like him too much. The virus didn't manage to survive and be passed on."

The H3N2 virus is different from the novel pandemic H1N1 virus that does spread among people. According to the literature, the majority of swine viruses that transfer to humans are H1N1 types, said Juergen Richt, Regents Distinguished Professor at K-State's College of Veterinary Medicine and a Kansas Bioscience Authority Eminent Scholar.

However, Richt said that the H3N2 virus introduced to North American pigs in the mid-1990s was a human-swine double reassortant virus.

"This scenario shows the need for and importance of studying zoonotic infectious diseases -- those that spread between humans and animals and vice versa -- and that's where we at K-State have expertise," Richt said. "Even if there is a disease problem, our faculty here at K-State can provide answers and solutions. We can diagnose diseases quickly and therefore can provide clear answers to pressing questions."

Anderson said that another K-State strength is having a strong partnership between diagnostics and research.

"It makes our research and diagnostic efforts that much better," he said.

Anderson said that the K-State Veterinary Diagnostic Lab and researchers in K-State's College of Veterinary Medicine welcome opportunities to work on infectious zoonotic diseases with state agencies like the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Animal Health Department, as well as federal researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"At K-State, we're ready for the unknown," Anderson said.

A strong partnership between diagnostics and research has helped Richt and a fellow K-State researcher in dealing with an unknown flu strain while both were researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa.

When diagnosticians from the University of Minnesota ran into difficulties determining exactly what type of flu was in a pig sample from two Missouri farms, they turned to Richt and Wenjun Ma, who is now a research assistant professor at K-State.

In two weeks, Ma said, they had sequenced the virus, which turned out to be H2N3 -- not to be confused with H3N2 that showed up in Riley County. This information helped Ma, Richt and U.S. Department of Agriculture colleagues develop a vaccine for it and create better diagnostic tools.

"When diagnostic labs get a sample, they now can use the diagnostic tools we developed," Richt said.

Their work was published in 2007 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a prestigious academic journal.

But how do influenza strains get their names anyway? H1N1, H1N2, H2N3, H3N1, H3N2, H5N1 look like a jumble of numbers and letters to most of us, but they actually tell scientists quite a bit about particular strains of influenza viruses.

Anderson and Richt explained that influenza subtypes get their names from the unique combination of proteins on the outer layer of the virus. The H stands for hemagglutinin, for which there are 16 types, and the N is for neuraminidase, for which there are nine types.

Richt said that in mammals -- humans, pigs, horses, dogs, marine mammals and the like -- only a few of these H's and N's can be consistently isolated, whereas all 16 H's and nine N's have been found in waterfowl and seabirds. He said that when mammalian virus strains meld, or "mate," with avian strains they may become virulent in other animals like humans and in pigs.

Because these proteins are on the outer layer of the virus, they make first contact with the receptors that line the animals' respiratory tracts and with their immune systems. That also means these are the genes most likely to be altered, resulting in new, mutated strains of flu, the researchers said.

Novel viruses often are a combination of two or three viruses, Richt said. So, a particularly virulent virus like the pandemic H1N1 flu virus contains genes from human, swine and avian strains.

Biographical information on Anderson and Richt is available at:

http://www.k-state.edu/media/mediaguide/bios/andersonbio.html

http://www.k-state.edu/media/mediaguide/bios/richtbio.html


SOURCE Kansas State University
 
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