FluView Week 47 ILIL activity
# 6752
The CDC’s weekly FluView report is out, and along with reporting an increase in general flu activity around the country, we also have the first novel (swine variant) flu case reported since September.
First the report on the H3N3v (variant) flu case, which had no apparent recent contact with livestock.
One infection with an influenza A (H3N2) variant virus (H3N2v) was reported to CDC during week 47 from Iowa. While no contact with swine or other livestock in the week preceding illness was reported, investigation into potential additional sources of infection is ongoing. No further cases have been identified in contacts of the case patient. This is the first H3N2v infection reported since September 28, 2012.
A total of 311 infections with variant influenza viruses (307 H3N2v viruses, 3 H1N2v viruses, and 1 H1N1v virus) have been reported from 11 states from July 2012 through November 28, 2012. More information about H3N2v infections can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swineflu/h3n2v-outbreak.htm. The vast majority of variant virus infections have occurred after exposure to swine, though instances of likely human-to-human transmission have been identified. No ongoing human-to-human transmission has been identified. Additional information about influenza in swine, variant influenza infection in humans, and precautionary measures recommended during interactions with swine can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swineflu/index.htm.
CDC Variant Flu Case Count Page
For earlier blogs on Variant Flu Strains you may wish to revisit:
MMWR: H3N2v Related Hospitalizations In Ohio – Summer 2012
The Return Of H1N1v
An Increasingly Complex Flu Field
And some excerpts from the rest of this week’s FluView Report:
2012-2013 Influenza Season Week 47 ending November 24, 2012
All data are preliminary and may change as more reports are received.
Synopsis:
During week 47 (November 18-24, 2012), influenza activity increased in the U.S.
- Viral Surveillance: Of 5,342 specimens tested and reported by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories during week 47, 812 (15.2%) were positive for influenza.
- Novel Influenza A Virus: One human infection with a novel influenza A virus was reported.
- Pneumonia and Influenza Mortality: The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was below the epidemic threshold.
- Influenza-associated Pediatric Deaths: No influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported.
- Outpatient Illness Surveillance: The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was 2.2%, which is at the national baseline of 2.2%. Five regions reported ILI above region-specific baseline levels. Five states experienced high ILI activity, two states experienced moderate ILI activity; 4 states experienced low ILI activity; New York City and 39 states experienced minimal ILI activity, and the District of Columbia had insufficient data.
- Geographic Spread of Influenza: The geographic spread of influenza in 4 states was reported as widespread; 7 states reported regional activity; 19 states reported local activity; the District of Columbia and 18 states reported sporadic activity; Guam and 1 state reported no influenza activity, and Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and 1 state did not report.
