ODH-WNV

There as been mounting interest with regard to West Nile Virus especially with increasing media attention to the West Nile’s morbidity and mortality rates in Texas. 

So what’s happening here in Ohio?

Here is the information from ODH:

2012 Ohio WNV Numbers at a Glance (as of August 29, 2012):

49 human cases

1 human fatality

56 years – median age of human cases

4 years – youngest human case

87 years – oldest human case

31 counties have WNV positive humans, mosquitoes and/or horses

As of 3 p.m. on August 29, the Ohio Department of Health is reporting 49 human cases of WNV in Ohio in Allen (2), Butler (1), Clark (5), Clermont (1), Cuyahoga (15), Franklin (3), Hamilton (5), Lorain (1), Lucas (3), Mercer (1), Miami (1), Montgomery (3), Putnam (1) , Richland (1), Ross (1), Sandusky (1), Stark (1), Van Wert (1), Warren (1) and Wood (1) Counties. 

Of these cases, 40 were hospitalized with symptom onset dates from July 10 thru August 20, 2012.

Meanwhile, in Michigan, according to the Lucas County Health Department, “…Michigan has reported 96 cases of WNV with 4  deaths including cases in Detroit and in the Ann Arbor area….” 

What actions to take?  I like the initiatives being promulgated in the Dallas area.  They are reasonable and low-cost especially if you or someone you know is susceptible due to age or infirmity.

It’s the 4Ds:

Dusk/Dawn (stay indoors); This is the time period when WNV-laden mosquitoes are most active.

Dress (use long sleeves and pants); If you do go out, wearing long pants and long sleeves will minimize “skeeter-skin” contact.

DEET (use mosquito repellent);  Enough said on that score.

Dump (any standing water).  Standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.  So eliminating these wet zones from where you live and where your kids play will also decrease exposure.

The CDC WNV website is very informative for both professional and public:  http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm

Finally, keep things in perspective:  The vast majority of WNV cases are asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic.

It’s been a while since this blog has looked at flu happenings.  Now something has popped up and one of the states that it’s popped up in is Ohio.

What I’m referring to is H3N2v virus. 

Today, August 3, CDC reported an additional 12 cases of human infection with influenza A (H3N2) variant virus. Now, the total comes to 29 cases since July 2011.

The latest 12 cases have occurred in three  states.  One case in Hawaii, one case in Indiana, and 10 cases in Ohio (Butler County).  All of the cases occurred in people who had direct or indirect contact with swine.  Of the 12 cases, 11 presumably caught their virus while attending an agricultural fairs.  At least there is a temporal relationship when the patients were exposed to the swine and when they became symptomatic.  As you know, swine tend to congregate at such venues.  

Anyway, most of the humans with H3N2v virus infection had the usual signs and symptoms of influenza (fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, muscle aches).  However, there were three who required hospitalization. All of the people hospitalized had high risk conditions (e.g. very young, very old, very immunosuppressed, etc).   All, fortunately, have recovered.  There is, so far, no evidence of human-to-human transmission and it is safe to eat properly cooked pork products.

Meanwhile, CDC has announced it will keep a close eye on this event.   Late summer is typically the fair season across the United States, and so there may be many opportunities for exposures to occur between pigs and people.

So, here are some items CDC would like you to consider especially if you or your family are going to fairs and other agricultural or rural happenings:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and running water before and after exposure to animals.
• Never eat, drink or put things in your mouth while in animal areas and don’t take food or drink into animal areas.
• Young children, pregnant women, people 65 and older and people with weakened immune systems should be extra careful around animals.
• If you have animals – including swine – watch them for signs of illness and call a veterinarian if you suspect they might be sick.
• Avoid close contact with animals that look or act ill, when possible.
• Avoid contact with pigs if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms.
• If you must come in contact with pigs while you are sick, or if you must come in contact with pigs known or suspected to be infected, or their environment, you should use appropriate protective measures (for example, wear protective clothing, gloves, masks that cover your mouth and nose, and other personal protective equipment) and practice good respiratory and hand hygiene.

Additionally, in response to recent human cases of H3N2v virus infection, CDC would like to convey the following information:

1. Children younger than 5 years, people 65 years and older, pregnant women, and people with certain chronic medical conditions (like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, weakened immune systems, and neurological or neurodevelopmental conditions) are at high risk from serious complications if they get influenza. These people should consider avoiding exposure to pigs and swine barns this summer, especially if sick pigs have been identified.
2. Studies conducted by CDC have indicated that children younger than 10 years old would have little to no immunity against H3N2v virus, whereas adults may have some cross-protective immunity. Most cases of H3N2v have occurred in children at this time.
3. There are two FDA–approved drugs that are expected to be effective in treating illness associated with H3N2v virus infection. The antiviral drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) are expected to be effective in treating H3N2v virus. Antiviral treatment is most effective when started as soon as possible after illness onset. (For more information about influenza antiviral medications, please see What You Should Know About Flu Antiviral Drugs.)
4. Signs and symptoms of H3N2v virus infection cannot be differentiated from those caused by other respiratory infections, including seasonal influenza virus infection.
5. Rapid influenza diagnostic tests may not detect H3N2v virus in human respiratory specimens (false negative results). If H3N2v virus infection is suspected because of recent exposure to pigs or to an ill person who had contact with pigs, testing of respiratory specimens should be done at a state health department.
6. Influenza viruses have not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly handled and prepared pork (pig meat) or other products derived from pigs. For more information about the proper handling and preparation of pork, visit the USDA website fact sheet “Fresh Pork from Farm to Table“

Other CDC recommendations related to H3N2v for the public are available in “Fact Sheet: Protect Yourself Against H3N2v“.