Ohio, Pennsylvania report new human 'swine flu' cases, US total now 7
Health officials in Ohio and Pennsylvania each reported recently on new human infections with novel influenza A '“variant” viruses.
In Ohio, officials reported on an infection with an influenza A(H1N1) variant (A(H1N1)v) virus. The patient had exposure to swine at an agricultural event prior to the illness onset.
In Pennsylvania, the patient contracted influenza A(H1N2)v and had occupational exposure to swine.
Both patients are >18 years of age, and developed symptoms and sought healthcare during the week ending August 10, 2024. Both patients were briefly hospitalized due to underlying medical conditions and have since recovered.
No symptoms were reported among close contacts of either case after the cases’ symptom onset, and no human-to-human transmission related to these cases has been identified.
A total of seven variant influenza cases have been reported during the 2023-2024 season Pennsylvania (four A(H1N2)v, Michigan and Colorado (one each A(H3N2)v, and Ohio (one A(H1N1)v).
Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that regularly cause outbreaks of influenza in pigs.
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Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with influenza viruses that normally circulate in swine and not people have occurred. When this happens, these viruses are called "variant viruses." They also can be denoted by adding the letter "v" to the end of the virus subtype designation. Human infections with H1N1v, H3N2v and H1N2v viruses have been detected in the United States.
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While most individuals recover from influenza, including illnesses from variant viruses, these infections can sometimes cause severe disease, even in healthy people. If someone experiences respiratory symptoms, they should share any recent exposure to livestock with their doctor so that influenza testing can be considered. The same antiviral drugs used to treat seasonal flu can be used to treat novel influenza A '“variant” viruses in children and adults. These treatments are most effective when taken early in the illness.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following preventive actions:
People at increased risk for severe influenza complications should avoid exposure to pigs.
Don't eat, drink or put anything in your mouth in areas with pigs.
Don't take toys, pacifiers, cups, baby bottles, strollers, or similar items into areas with pigs.
Wash your hands with soap and running water before and after exposure to pigs outside or inside a swine barn. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
To further reduce the risk of infection, avoid or minimize contact with pigs in the pig barns and show arenas.
Where possible, avoid direct contact with pigs that are known or suspected to be sick. If you must come in contact with pigs that may be ill, then wear personal protective equipment (PPE). This includes protective clothing, gloves, and a well-fitting mask that covers your mouth and nose. Parents and caregivers should review considerations for specific groups of people when selecting a respirator or mask for children.
If you have a pig, watch for signs of illness (like loss of appetite, fever, tiredness, eye redness, discomfort, cough, or runny nose)
If you suspect your pig is sick, call a veterinarian.
If sick pigs are in an exhibition area, remove them right away.
If possible, avoid close contact with sick pigs.
Avoid contact with pigs if you have flu symptoms. Wait to have contact with pigs until 7 days after your illness started or until you have been without fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, whichever is longer. If you must have contact with pigs while you are sick, take the preventive actions listed above.
Like everyone else, people who care for pigs should get a seasonal flu vaccine every flu season. Although a seasonal flu vaccine probably will not protect people against infection with variant influenza A viruses (because swine influenza A viruses are substantially different from seasonal influenza A viruses that infect people), vaccination is important to reduce the risk of spreading human seasonal influenza A viruses to other people and to pigs. Seasonal flu vaccination might also decrease the potential for people or pigs to become infected with human influenza A viruses and influenza A viruses from pigs at the same time.
Anyone who is at higher risk of serious flu complications who plans to attend an event or setting where pigs will be present, such as an agricultural fair, should avoid pigs and swine barns.
If people at higher risk cannot avoid exposure to pigs, they should wear a well-fitting mask that covers the nose and mouth (e.g., an N95 respirator or KN95 respirator if available, or if not available, a surgical mask) to reduce the risk of exposure to influenza viruses from pigs.
People at higher risk of serious flu complications who develop flu symptoms should call a health care provider. Tell them about your risk factor and any exposure to pigs or swine barns you've had recently. Human seasonal flu vaccines will not protect against influenza A viruses that commonly spread in pigs, but prescription influenza antiviral drugs can treat infections with these viruses in people when treatment is started shortly after symptoms begin.