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Influenza A(H3N2) Variant Virus Outbreak at Three Fairs — Maryland, 2017
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Oct 26 2018
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Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 67(42):1169-1173
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Alternative Title:MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep
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Description:On September 17, 2017, the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) was notified by fair and 4-H officials of ill swine at agricultural fair A, held September 14-17. That day, investigation of the 107 swine at fair A revealed five swine with fever and signs of upper respiratory tract illness. All five respiratory specimens collected from these swine tested positive for influenza A Virus at the MDA Animal Health Laboratory, and influenza A(H3N2) Virus was confirmed in all specimens by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL). On September 18, MDA was notified by fair and 4-H officials that swine exhibitors were also ill. MDA alerted the Maryland Department of Health (MDH). A joint investigation with MDH and the local health department was started and later broadened to Maryland agricultural fairs B (September 13-17) and C (September 15-23). In total, 76 persons underwent tTesting for Variants influenza, and influenza A(H3N2) Variants (A(H3N2)v) Virus infection was identified in 40 patients with exposure to swine at these fairs (Figure), including 30 (75%) who had more than one characteristic putting them at high risk for serious influenza Complications; 24 (60%) of these were children aged <5 years. Twenty-six (65%) patients reported direct contact with swine (i.e., touching swine or swine enclosure), but 14 (35%) reported only indirect contact (e.g., walking through a swine barn). Two children required hospitalization; all patients recovered. This outbreak highlights the risk, particularly among children, for contracting Variants influenza Virus at agricultural fairs after direct or indirect swine contact. Publicizing CDC's recommendation that persons at high risk for serious influenza Complications avoid pigs and swine barns might help prevent future Variants influenza outbreaks among vulnerable groups (1).
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Pubmed ID:30359341
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC6290816
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