health
Swine-origin flu identified in 2 children
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 19, 2011
Two cases of febrile respiratory illness caused by swine-origin influenza A(H3N2) were identified in August in two children from Indiana and Pennsylvania, said a study issued Sept. 2 in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The children, who were vaccinated against influenza during the 2010-11 season, have since recovered, the report said (link).
On Aug. 17, the CDC was notified by the Indiana State Dept. of Health Laboratories of a suspected case of H3N2 in a boy younger than 5. No direct exposure to swine was identified, but a caretaker reported direct contact with asymptomatic swine in the weeks before the boy's illness onset.
The CDC learned of a second case of H3N2 in a girl younger than 5 on Aug. 24 from the Pennsylvania Dept. of Health. She was reported to have visited an agricultural fair where she had direct exposure to swine several days before illness onset.
There is no epidemiologic link between the two patients, and there were no additional cases of confirmed swine-origin H3N2 as of Sept. 2, the CDC said.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/09/19/hlbf0919.htm.
