Special Report

Getting ahead of H3N2 in 2013

Last summer there were 138 human cases of H3N2.  Dr. Bret Marsh, Indiana State Veterinarian says most of those cases were associated with people being around livestock exhibits. 

Because of the correlation between the two – Indiana has put together recommendations for the 2013 livestock exhibition season.  “The first thing you should do is monitor the animal once they’re on the fairgrounds; the second recommendation is to consider vaccination; the third thing is to shorten the length of stay on the fairgrounds (no more than 72 hours); and the final recommendation is identification (we’ve suggested the 840 electronic identification),” he says. 

The Indiana recommendations laid the framework for a set of practical guidelines to be used nationwide. 

Those recommendations can be found on the US Animal Health Association’s website.

AUDIO: Dr. Bret Marsh, Indiana State Veterinarian (4:30mp3)