Iowa Reports 6 More `Probable’ H5N2 Outbreaks

 

 

#10,018

 

Although Minnesota hasn’t updated their website as of 1800hrs (EDT) today, and Wisconsin reports no new infections for the second day running, the news out of Iowa is less reassuring with 6 more farms added to the `probable’ list.   

 

The size of four of these flocks has not been released, but for two of them they are estimated at about 100K each.

 

The updated summary table, and details on today’s outbreak, follow:

 

SIX PROBABLE CASES OF HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA IN SIOUX AND O’BRIEN COUNTIES

CDC considers the risk to people to be low

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responding to six probable cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in commercial poultry farms in Sioux and O’Brien counties.  These six new cases would join 28 cases of the disease in Iowa that were previously announced. State officials have quarantined the premises and once the presence of the disease is confirmed, all birds on the property will be humanely euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease.

Sioux 5 – A pullet farm with an estimated 100,000 birds that has experienced increased mortality.  Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza.  Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames.

Sioux 6 – Commercial laying operation with an estimated 100,000 birds that has experienced increased mortality.  Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza.  Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames.

Sioux 7 – A pullet farm that has experienced increased mortality.  An estimate on the number of birds at the site is still pending.  Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza.  Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames.

O’Brien 3 – A backyard duck flock that was tested as part of monitoring efforts around a previous confirmed case.  Testing by the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames showed it positive for H5N2 highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Sioux 8 – Commercial laying operation that has experienced increased mortality. An estimate on the number of birds at the site is still pending.  Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza.  Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames.

Sioux 9 – Commercial laying operation that has experienced increased mortality. An estimate on the number of birds at the site is still pending.  Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza.  Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames.

As the Department receives final confirmations of the disease updated information will be posted to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.iowaagriculture.gov/avianinfluenza.asp.

 

 

Additionally, while I’ve found not statement on the Missouri Department of Agriculture Website, there are media reports that a backyard flock in Lewis County, MO has tested positive for the HPAI H5 virus.  This is the first report out of Missouri since mid March.

 

This from the AP.

 

Bird flu virus creeps into northeastern Missouri

ST. LOUIS — A strain of bird flu responsible for the deaths of millions of chickens and turkeys in several states has surfaced in northeastern Missouri, weeks after it was detected elsewhere in the state, the Missouri Department of Agriculture said Wednesday.

The department confirmed in an email to The Associated Press that 10 to 12 birds in a backyard flock of mixed poultry in Lewis County were found last week to be infected with a strain of the highly pathogenic H5N2 influenza virus, forcing an additional 130 of the property's birds to be quarantined and destroyed.

The department did not identify the property owner but said the farm was not a commercial poultry producer.

(Continue . . .)

 

Iowa Governor Declares State-Wide Bird Flu Emergency, MN reports 2 More Farms Hit

Credit Wikipedia

 

 

# 10,000

 

During a 4pm (EDT) press conference today, Iowa Governor Terry E. Branstad announced the declaration of a statewide state of emergency due to the ongoing avian flu outbreak affecting millions of chickens and turkeys in his state. 

 

This afternoon, Iowa Agriculture officials are also reporting four more farms with probable H5N2 infection, raising the total to 21 farms, across 10 counties.   Roughly 16 million birds have died, or will be culled, in Iowa alone – roughly 25% of that state’s layer population.

 

While the threat to human health is considered low at this time, this state of Emergency will allow the governor to authorize the use of state money and resources to track and monitor cases, restrict and monitor the movement of poultry, and to safely dispose of millions of dead birds.

 

Here is the statement from the Governor’s Office.

 

Branstad declares state of emergency in Iowa

Date: May 01, 2015

Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad today was joined by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Mark Schouten to provide an update on the ongoing efforts to stop the avian influenza outbreak in Iowa. In addition, Gov. Branstad announced that he is declaring a state of emergency in Iowa. The disaster proclamation can be viewed here.

“While the avian influenza outbreak does not pose a risk to humans, we are taking the matter very seriously and believe declaring a state of emergency is the best way to make all resources available,” said Branstad. “Even before the virus began in Iowa, our office was monitoring the outbreak in other states. We’ll continue our work – as we’ve been doing since the first outbreak in Buena Vista County – in hopes of stopping the virus’ aggressive spread throughout Iowa.”

At time of press, 21 sites spanning 10 Iowa counties have cases that are either presumed positives or confirmed positives. The counties include: Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Kossuth, Madison, O’Brien, Osceola, Pocahontas, Sac and Sioux.

“Iowa’s poultry farms are an important part of our state’s agriculture industry.  This disease is having a far reaching impact and, unfortunately, it has continued to spread.  We have seen tremendous support and coordination from state, federal and local partners and this emergency declaration will allow the state to continue to respond aggressively to this disease outbreak,” Northey said.

In addition, Gov. Branstad today declared a state of emergency due to the outbreak. The proclamation is effective immediately and will continue until May 31, 2015, at 11:59 p.m., unless sooner terminated or extended by the governor.

The proclamation of disaster emergency can be read below and does the following:

• 1.      Activates the disaster response and recovery aspect of the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department’s (HSEMD) Iowa Emergency Response Plan.
• 2.      Authorizes the use and deployment of all available state resources, supplies, equipment, and materials as are deemed reasonably necessary by the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and Iowa HSEMD in order to do the following:
• A.      Track and monitor instances of confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza  throughout the state of Iowa and the country,
• B.      Establish importation restrictions and prohibitions in respect to animals suspected of suffering from this disease,
• C.      Rapidly detect any presumptive or confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza within Iowa’s borders, 
• D.     Contain the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza within our state through depopulation, disinfections, and disposal of livestock carcasses,
• E.      Engage in detection activities, contact tracking, and other investigatory work to stop the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza within our state, and
• F.       Eliminate the disease in those disaster counties where it has been found and lessen the risk of this disease spreading to our state as a whole.
• 3.      Temporarily authorizes the Iowa HSEMD, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), other state agencies, and local law enforcement agencies and private contractors employed by the same to remove and/or dispose of live animals and animal carcasses on publicly or privately owned land when those live animals and/or carcasses threaten public health or safety.
• 4.      Authorizes the Iowa HSEMD, the Iowa DOT, the Iowa DPS, the Iowa DNR, IDPH, other state agencies, and local law enforcement agencies to implement stop movement and stop loading restrictions and other control zone measures as are reasonably deemed necessary, including establishing buffer zones, checkpoints, and cleaning and disinfecting operations at checkpoints and borders surrounding any quarantine areas established by the IDALS or at any other location in the state of Iowa, in order to stop the spread of this contagious disease.
• 5.      Authorizes state agencies to assist the IDALS in disinfection, depopulation, and livestock carcass disposal efforts.
• 6.      Temporarily waives restrictions to allow for the timely and efficient disposal of poultry carcasses.
• 7.      Temporarily suspends the regulatory provisions pertaining to hours of service for commercial vehicle drivers hauling poultry carcasses infected with or exposed to highly pathogenic avian influenza or while hauling loads otherwise related to the response to this disaster during its duration, subject to certain conditions outlined in the disaster proclamation.

(Continue . . . )

Meanwhile, Minnesota is reporting two additional (presumed) positive poultry operations, bringing that state’s total to 72 farms, and just under 4 million birds affected.

 

HPAI H5: Minnesota Reports 11 More Farms, Iowa Reports 4 More As `Probable’

 

# 9993

 

Although we don’t have a good count on the number of birds affected, tonight the Minnesota Board of Animal Health has announced an additional 11 farms have been hit with the HPAI H5N2 virus since yesterday’s update – putting the total at 67 farms across 19 counties.

https://www.bah.state.mn.us/avian-influenza

All of the counties – except 1 (Steele) – have reported previously outbreaks.

 

Meanwhile Iowa – which has seen fewer farms, but far larger numbers of birds affected - reports four more probable outbreaks. Kossuth County becomes the 6th Iowa county to report outbreaks of the highly infectious avian virus.

 

FOUR ADDITIONAL CASES OF HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA IN BUENA VISTA AND KOSSUTH COUNTIES

CDC considers the risk to people to be low

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responding to four probable cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in commercial poultry farms in Buena Vista and Kossuth counties.  These four new cases would join eight cases of the disease in Iowa that were previously announced. State officials have quarantined the premises and once the presence of the disease is confirmed, all birds on the property will be humanely euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease.

Buena Vista 2 – Turkey farm with an estimated 50,000 birds that experienced increased mortality.  Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza.  Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames.

Buena Vista 3 – Turkey farm that has experienced increased mortality.  An estimate on the number of birds at the site is still pending. Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza.  Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames.

Buena Vista 4 – Commercial laying operation with an estimated 63,000 birds that has experienced increased mortality.  Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza.  Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames.

Kossuth County – Chicken breeder farm with an estimated 19,000 birds that has experienced increased mortality.  Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza.  Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames.

As the Department receives final confirmations of the disease updated information will be posted to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.iowaagriculture.gov/avianinfluenza.asp.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Iowa Department of Public Health considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low.  No human infections with the virus have ever been detected there is no food safety risk for consumers.

(Continue . . . )

 

Iowa Adds Another Big Poultry Farm To Their HPAI List

 

# 9987

 

Late yesterday afternoon the Iowa Department of Agriculture released a statement (see Iowa: Four `Probable’ HPAI H5 Farms Quarantined),  announcing `probable’ infections at four farms, encompassing 2.3 million birds.    A few hours later, they revised that statement to five farms, with the addition of a second farm in Sioux County, involving another 3.8 million birds.

 

While having only a fraction of the number of infected farms as Minnesota (last count =55), Iowa – with nearly 10 million birds affected – has seen the greatest poultry losses to date.

 

The revised press release (FIVE PROBABLE CASES OF HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA IN OSCEOLA, O’BRIEN AND SIOUX COUNTIES) adds the following information.

 

Sioux County 2 – Commercial laying operation with an estimated 3.8 million birds that has experienced increased mortality.  Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza.  Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames.

 

 

According to the Iowa Agriculture’s Avian Influenza site, the 10 million layers affected in the state represent nearly 1/6th of the state’s total layer population.   This outbreak affects more than just infected farms, as many countries have either banned, or placed restrictions on the U.S. Poultry exports.

 

Iowa Poultry Production

• In March 2015, Iowa had 59.5 million egg layer chickens (16% of national stocks) in 3,821 laying facilities
• A typical layer hen weighs between 3–4 pounds, with an average weight 3.6 – 3.7 pounds.
• The laying period begins at 18-20 weeks old and is productive for approximately two years
• The accepted industry value is $1.50 per productive laying hen
• 16.5 billion eggs produced annually (17% of national production)
• In March 2015, Iowa layers produced 1.41 billion eggs – or 0.77 eggs per hen per day
• Raise over 11 million turkeys (9th in US turkey production) in about 200 farm sites

Trade/Export

• At least 30 countries have placed restrictions on U.S. poultry exports:
• Ban on all US poultry products: China, South Korea, South Africa, Thailand
• Limited restrictions on poultry products from individual States: Japan, Mexico, Taiwan
• Limited restrictions to counties in individual States: Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the European Union \

 

For an excellent roundup of yesterday’s avian flu news, I heartily recommend the end-of-day wrap up by Robert Roos and Lisa Schnirring of CIDRAP NEWS , whose report  Avian flu hits more farms in Iowa, Minnesota provides the latest stats, and excellent background information as well.

Iowa: Four `Probable’ HPAI H5 Farms Quarantined

 

# 9984

It’s been 72 hours since our last APHIS update, and its obviously been a long and difficult weekend for poultry farmers and USDA officials across the Midwest, and so it comes as no surprise that we are starting to get reports this afternoon of additional farms infected with the H5N2 virus. 

I expect we’ll get an update on the APHIS website after 5pm, but for now we have this report from the Iowa Department of Agriculture on 4 more `probable’ infections. 

 

Of note, these four farms contain roughly 2.3 million birds, adding substantially to the economic carnage this virus has caused in Iowa.

 

 

FOUR PROBABLE CASES OF HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA IN OSCEOLA, O’BRIEN AND SIOUX COUNTIES

Media Advisory:
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and USDA will host a press conference call at 3:15 p.m. on Monday, April 27, 2015 to discuss the additional avian influenza cases in Iowa.

Call in number: 866-685-1580
Conference code: 5152818615

FOUR PROBABLE CASES OF HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA IN OSCEOLA, O’BRIEN AND SIOUX COUNTIES
CDC considers the risk to people to be low

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responding to four probable cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in commercial poultry farms in Osceola, O’Brien and Sioux Counties in Northwest Iowa.  These four new cases would join three confirmed cases of the disease in Iowa. State officials have quarantined the premises and if the initial test are confirmed, all birds on the property will be humanely euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease.

Osceola County 2 – Pullet farm with an estimated 250,000 birds.  Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza.  Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames. 

O’Brien County 1 – Commercial laying operation with an estimated 240,000 birds that has experienced increased mortality. Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza.  Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames.

O’Brien County 2 – Commercial laying operation with an estimated 98,000 birds that has experienced increased mortality.  Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza.  Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames.

Sioux County – Commercial laying operation with an estimated 1.7 million birds that has experienced increased mortality.  Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza.  Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Iowa Department of Public Health considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low.  No human infections with the virus have ever been detected there is no food safety risk for consumers.

(Continue . . . )

 

H5N2 Impacts 5.3M Chickens In Iowa, Two More Farms In Minn. - APHIS

 

 

 

# 9963

APHIS updated their current listing of poultry farms to be hit by the HPAI H5 virus shortly after 5pm today, and a farm in Iowa – with 5.3 million chickens either infected or exposed – singlehandedly more than doubles the number of birds on the culling block since the virus began to spread across the United States last December.

 

With the exception of 200,000 chickens affected 10 days ago in Wisconsin, the H5N2 story in American poultry this winter has been almost entirely centered around turkeys.  While considered less susceptible to HPAI H5N2 than turkeys, today’s announcement will no doubt raise additional  red flags for chicken producers across the nation.

The APHIS report also indicates two more Minnesota turkey farms have been hit in recent days, bring that state’s total to 28 farms involving roughly 1.7 million turkeys.

APHIS: Iowa Becomes 16th State To Report HPAI H5

 

# 9942

 

On the same day that New Mexico reported their first detection of HPAI H5 (in a wild duck), we also add Iowa to the rapidly expanding list of states reporting these rapidly spreading avian flu strains.  As we’ve seen often over the past few weeks, the HPAI H5N2 virus has shown up in a commercial turkey farm, this time in the northwest quadrant of the state.

Buena Vista County, Iowa – Credit Wikipedia

This from APHIS

 

USDA Confirms Highly Pathogenic H5N2 Avian Influenza in Buena Vista County, Iowa

Published: Apr 14, 2015

 

CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low

WASHINGTON, April 14, 2015 -- The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock in Buena Vista County, Iowa.  The flock of 27,000 turkeys is located within the Mississippi flyway where this strain of avian influenza has previously been identified. CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low.  No human infections with the virus have been detected at this time.

Samples from the turkey flock, which experienced increased mortality, were tested at the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa confirmed the findings. NVSL is the only internationally recognized AI reference laboratory in the U.S.   APHIS is working closely with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship on a joint incident response. State officials quarantined the premises and birds on the property will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system.

The United States has the strongest AI surveillance program in the world.  As part of the existing USDA avian influenza response plans, Federal and State partners as well as industry are responding quickly and decisively to these outbreaks by following these five basic steps: 1) Quarantine – restricting movement of poultry and poultry-moving equipment into and out of the control area; 2) Eradicate – humanely euthanizing the affected flock(s); 3) Monitor region – testing wild and domestic birds in a broad area around the quarantine area; 4)  Disinfect – kills the virus in the affected flock locations; and 5) Test – confirming that the poultry farm is AI virus-free.  USDA also is working with its partners to actively look and test for the disease in commercial poultry operations, live bird markets and in migratory wild bird populations.

(Continue . . .)

 

Although all of the HPAI H5 detections thus far have taken place west of the Mississippi, the virus appears to be moving inexorably to the east – carried by migratory birds – and those states not yet affected are almost certainly already on alert.

Iowa: Updating The Cyclospora Outbreak

 

Credit CDC

 

 

# 7483

 

Last week in Iowa & Nebraska Report Cyclospora Outbreak I wrote about an outbreak of a relatively rare (at least in the United States) intestinal illness due to the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis.

 

A week ago (July 8th) Iowa had reported 22 laboratory confirmed cases. Today, that number has more than tripled, with 71 cases now confirmed.

 

First, two updates from the Iowa Department of Public Health, and then I’ll return with a little bit more.

 

 

IDPH Cyclospora Case Count Update

The Iowa Department of Public Health, CDC and local public health agencies are investigating an outbreak of an intestinal illness caused by Cyclospora (a rare parasite). As of today, July 15, 71 cases of Cyclospora infections have been reported to IDPH; almost all have been identified through testing at the State Hygienic Lab (SHL), including:

• Linn County - 30 cases
• Polk County - 5 cases
• Fayette County - 3 cases
• O’Brien County - 3 cases
• Dallas County - 3 cases
• Buchanan - 3 cases
• Black Hawk County - 3 cases
• Webster County - 3 cases
• Mills County - 2 cases
• Des Moines County - 2 cases
• Boone County - 3 cases
• Benton County - 1 case
• Keokuk - 1 case
• Monona - 1 case
• Butler - 1 case
• Winneshiek - 1 case
• Johnson County - 1 case
• Pottawattamie County - 1 case
• Van Buren County - 1 case
• Story County - 1 case
• Cedar County - 1 case
• Woodbury County - 1 case

Total - 71 cases

 

 

Iowa Cyclospora Outbreak 2013
Outbreak Update 7.15.13
(new information is highlighted)

• IDPH, CDC, the State Hygienic Laboratory and local public health agencies are investigating an
  outbreak caused by Cyclospora.
  • As of today, 71 cases of Cyclospora infections have been reported to IDPH. Case counts are updated at approximately 10 a.m. each day.
  • Cyclospora is a rare parasite.
  • Previous outbreaks have been associated with fresh produce (fresh fruits and
    vegetables)
  • People become infected with Cyclospora by consuming food or water contaminated
    with the parasite.
    
• The source of this outbreak is unknown at this time, however progress is being made.
  • Cyclospora illness is typically traced to consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables
    contaminated with the parasite; this investigation currently indicates fresh vegetables, not fruit, may be the source of illness.
  • IDPH is working with local public health agencies to interview individuals who are ill to determine if there is a common food exposure that would indicate the source of illness.
  • Cluster investigations continue, which ask questions of both the ill person and their
    family and friends who are not ill, to determine what the well people did not eat. 
    
• Cylospora infection causes a watery diarrhea that lasts an average of 57 days, if untreated.
  • Most of the illnesses in this outbreak began in mid to late June. Many people report still
    being ill and some have had relapses.
  • There is treatment (medicine) available to treat Cyclospora infection.
  • Specific laboratory testing (not commonly ordered) must be done to detect Cyclospora.
  • Specific treatment (not typically used to treat more common diarrheal illnesses) can be prescribed.
• If you are experiencing diarrhea, or have recently had a long bout with diarrhea, you should
  contact your health care provider and see if you should be tested for Cyclospora infection.
  • Additional symptoms of cyclosporiasis (the infection caused by Cyclospora) include: 
    Watery diarrhea 
    Fatigue (severe tiredness) 
    Loss of appetite 
    Weight loss 
    Bloating 
    Increased gas 
    Stomach cramps 
    Nausea 
    Vomiting 
    Muscle aches 
    Low-grade fever

 

Unlike cryptosporidium and the infamous norovirus, which can be easily be passed from human-to-human, Cyclospora is rarely transmitted directly from an infected host.

 

Hosts infected with Cyclospora shed unsporulated (non-infective) cysts in their stool which require days or even weeks to mature into infectious agents.

 

Neighboring Nebraska has reported more than a dozen cases of Cyclospora over the past two weeks as well, although Iowa appears to be taking the brunt of the outbreak.

 

The CDC maintains an extensive site on Parasites - Cyclosporiasis (Cyclospora Infection) where you can learn more about this water and food borne illness.

 

I’ll update this story when (or if) we learn the source.

Iowa & Nebraska Report Cyclospora Outbreak

 

Credit CDC 

 

# 7462

 

 

Although fairly common in developing tropical, or sub-tropical countries, Cyclosporiasis – an infection generally acquired through consuming food or water contaminated with Cyclospora cayetanensis - is relatively rare in the United States.

 

According to the CDC’s Epidemiology & Risk Factors:

 

In the United States, foodborne outbreaks of cyclosporiasis since the mid-1990s have been linked to various types of imported fresh produce, including raspberries, basil, snow peas, and mesclun lettuce; no commercially frozen or canned produce has been implicated.

 

U.S. cases of infection also have occurred in persons who traveled to Cyclospora-endemic areas. To reduce the risk for infection, travelers should take precautions, such as those recommended in CDC's Health Information for International Travel (Yellow Book). Travelers also should be aware that treatment of water or food with chlorine or iodine is unlikely to kill Cyclospora oocysts.

 

Unlike cryptosporidium, which can be easily be passed from human-to-human, Cyclospora is rarely transmitted directly from an infected host. Hosts infected with Cyclospora shed unsporulated (non-infective) cysts in their stool which require days or even weeks to mature into infectious agents.

 

So far, the source of this outbreak remains a mystery, but at least 3 dozen people in Iowa and Nebraska have been identified as infected – all apparently since mid-June.  Public Health departments in Iowa and Nebraska are urging lab testing for patients with prolonged diarrhea  accompanied by anorexia and fatigue.

 

This from the Iowa Department of Public Health.

 

IDPH Investigates Intestinal Illness

The Iowa Department of Public Health, CDC and local public health agencies are investigating an outbreak of an intestinal illness caused by Cyclospora (a rare parasite). As of today, July 8, 22 cases of Cyclospora infections have been reported to IDPH; almost all have been identified through testing at the State Hygienic Lab (SHL), including:

• Linn County - 10 cases
• Fayette County - 3 cases
• O’Brien County - 2 cases
• Webster County - 2 cases
• Benton County - 1 case
• Des Moines County - 1 case
• Mills County - 1 case
• Polk County - 1 case
• Van Buren County - 1 case

Most people’s illness began in mid to late June, and at least one person has been hospitalized. Many people report still being ill with diarrhea and some have had relapses.

 

Specific treatment is available (but it is not typically used for more common diarrheal illnesses). Also, very specific laboratory testing (not commonly ordered) must be done to detect Cyclospora.

 

Additional cases have been identified in Nebraska and other Midwestern states. IDPH is coordinating the investigation with public health officials in those states. The investigation is ongoing; no specific source of exposure has been identified. Fresh produce (fresh fruits and vegetables) have been implicated in previous outbreaks. Washing fresh produce is recommended; however, it can be very difficult to wash Cyclospora off all types of produce.

 

People become infected with cyclospora by consuming food or water contaminated with the parasite, which causes a watery diarrhea that lasts an average of 57 days if untreated.

Symptoms of cyclosporiasis include:

• Watery diarrhea
• Fatigue (severe tiredness)
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Bloating
• Increased gas
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Muscle aches
• Low-grade fever

Iowa: No New trH3N2 Cases

 

H3N2 influenza virions –CDC PHIL

 

# 6028

 

 

Over the past few months we’ve been carefully watching the evolution and spread of a novel swine flu variant called trH3N2, that is a reassortment of the swine H3N2 virus that has acquired the Matrix (M) gene segment from the 2009 H1N1 virus.

 

So far, fewer than a dozen cases have been reported across 4 states - although the suspicion is that additional cases may have gone undetected.

 

While the majority of these cases reportedly had recent contact with swine, three recent cases out of Iowa were notable as they appear to be the result of Human-to-Human (H-2-H) transmission.

 

Nearly a month ago, the CDC released a special MMWR  dispatch that provided details on these three new cases, some background on earlier SOIV (swine origin influenza viruses) cases, and some analysis. 

 

A few excerpts follow (underscores & bolding mine), but follow the link to read the entire dispatch.

 

Limited Human-to-Human Transmission of Novel Influenza A (H3N2) Virus — Iowa, November 2011

Dispatch

November 23, 2011 / 60(Dispatch);1-3

On November 20, 2011, CDC confirmed three cases of swine-origin triple reassortant influenza A (H3N2) (S-OtrH3N2) virus infection in children in two counties in Iowa. None of the children were hospitalized, and each has recovered from a mild episode of febrile respiratory illness. All three were in contact with one another, and none had a known recent exposure to swine. No additional human infections with this virus have been detected in Iowa, and no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission of this S-OtrH3N2 virus exists; surveillance is ongoing.

(Continue . . .)

 

 

Understandably, local health officials have been on increased alert, looking for more cases.  Overnight it’s been widely reported that, according to Iowa state health officials, no new cases  of this novel influenza virus have been seen since early November.

 

State Medical Director Dr. Patricia Quinlisk is quoted yesterday by The Des Moines Register (see New flu virus blips out of Iowa as quickly as it appeared) as saying the virus `apparently failed to continue spreading’.

 

Nonetheless, state health officials continue to be on watch for new cases

 

Surveillance isn’t perfect, of course, and relatively few people get tested when they get a flu-like illness. So it is possible (perhaps even likely) that there are some cases out there going undetected.

 

All of which makes it premature to sound the all-clear on this fledgling flu.

 

But this lack of new case detections in the face of enhanced surveillance would seem a pretty good indicator that this flu isn’t ready for prime time, and supports the CDC’s contention that there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission of this S-OtrH3N2 virus.

 

As this trH3N2 virus has been detected in multiple swine herds, and in humans across four states, It would not be unreasonable to expect that we’ll see more cases of this novel flu crop up in the future.

 

The evolution of flu viruses is an ongoing process, and each new host infection presents the virus with another opportunity to evolve and change.

 

At some point, this virus may adapt well enough to human physiology to become a major player on the field of flu. Or it may simply fizzle out, and end up in evolution’s dustbin of failed mutations.

 

Influenza is notoriously unpredictable, and I certainly wouldn’t care to hazard a guess as to what happens next with this virus.

But for now, no flus is good news.