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Two H3N2v cases linked to Wisconsin State Fair

A couple of people with ties to the Wisconsin State Fair have come down with the H3N2v influenza. One of the individuals was a swine exhibitor at the fair from western Wisconsin, the other an adult fair worker from southeastern Wisconsin who did not report any direct contact with swine. These are the first two human cases of the strain in the Badger State.

The Centers for Disease Control reports 225 cases of human infections of the virus have been found this summer; 138 in Indiana, 72 in Ohio and a few cases in Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Hawaii.

According to the CDC: Influenza viruses are thought to spread from infected pigs to humans in the same way that seasonal influenza viruses spread between people; mainly through infected droplets created when an infected pig coughs or sneezes droplets with influenza virus in them spread through the air. If these droplets land in your nose or mouth, or are inhaled, you can be infected. There also is some evidence that you might get infected by touching something that has virus on it and then touching your own mouth or nose. A third way to possibly get infected is to inhale dust containing influenza virus.

Health officials remind people to wash their hands with soap and running water before and after exposure to animals. Never eat, drink or put things in your mouth in animal areas. Children younger than 5 years of age, pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions and/or weakened immune systems may want to avoid expose to pigs and pig barns this summer.