Three Novel Influenza-A Cases Linked to Pennsylvania Agricultural Fair

Three children have come down with a novel strain of flu, and the one link among them is an agricultural fair last month in southwestern Pennsylvania.    All three children attended the Washington County Agricultural Fair between August 13th and 20th.

The cases are similar to previous rare human infections with the swine-origin H3N2 viruses, but they’re unique because they contain a genetic component of the H1N1 virus.

Martin Raniowski, Deputy Secretary for Health Planning and Assessments at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, says officials still can’t say how the illness was transmitted. He says they’re looking at whether there was human-to-human transmission or animal-to-human transmission, but they just don’t know that yet.

Ranowski emphasizes they’re not telling people to avoid fairs or other public venues– they should just use the normal precautions for any influenza or illness. Those precautions include Washington your hands often and keeping your hands away from your face and mouth. He says if you’re not feeling well, stay away from work, school and social gatherings.

Raniowski says the reason this flu is getting so much attention is because it’s a novel strain. He says it’s not that this is a stronger influenza, but it appears to be the next change in influenza. The Health Department and the CDC are conducting increased surveillance and tracking in southwestern Pennsylvania, as well aas setting up informational booths about influenza at agricultural fairs.

Raniowski can’t say yet if this year’s flu vaccine will protect against this novel strain. He says they are looking at whether it will provide some protection.  He says people are encouraged to get flu shots to protect against the seasonal flu they know is coming this year.