UPDATE: Ohio Department of Health announces Aug. 31 that the first H3N2v-related death occurred earlier this week. A 61-year-old woman from Madison County near Columbus died after having contact with swine at the Ross County Fair. The woman had other underlying medical conditions, but the influenza virus may have contributed to her death, according to a news release. Athens County still has 8 confirmed cases of H3N2v.
In less than a month, almost 100 cases of a strain of “swine flu” have been documented in Ohio, 8 of them in Athens County.
But health officials say students should not be worried.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention documented 277 cases of H3N2v influenza nationwide since March. Five months later, the Ohio Department of Health began documenting cases of the virus in the state.
In August, a total of 99 cases have occurred statewide, 8 of which were in Athens County.
The virus is drastically more prevalent this year than last year, when only 12 cases were reported nationally. Since July 2012, H3N2v has hospitalized 13 people nationwide, but all have been treated and released.
H3N2v is a mild virus compared to H1N1, another strain of swine flu, and most people who have it recover on their own, said Erica Pitchford, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Agriculture. H1N1 led to hundreds of deaths during its outbreak three years ago.
Students should not worry about being infected with H3N2v because the virus is unlikely to be passed from person to person. It is mainly spread through direct contact with swine, Pitchford said.
“Unless students are working with pigs, (H3N2v) shouldn’t affect them,” Pitchford said. “Should you get vaccinated (for the flu)? Yes, but should you get vaccinated only because of the H3N2v? No.”
Cases of the virus have been documented in people between the ages of 6 months and 51 years, and some populations are more vulnerable than others, Pitchford said.
“Small children and older folks are more likely to get sick, so they should stay away from farms this year,” Pitchford said.
The best way to prevent catching the virus is to wash your hands with soap and water, said Tess Pollock, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Health.
“Washing your hands often will help prevent not just the H3N2v influenza, but any other flu as well,” Pollock said.
How the pigs got the virus has yet to be determined, but Pitchford said people attending state fairs should be safe.
The Athens County Fair took place Aug. 3–11 this year and did not result in any documented cases of H3N2v. The Athens City-County Health Department directed questions to the Ohio Department of Health.
“I think your fear is over,” Pitchford said. “Just follow proper safety precautions to stay safe.”
az346610@ohiou.edu
