Plagues,
Pestilences and Diseases
Fears over outbreak after 12 infected with new swine flu
strain in U.S.
By Nina Golgowski
Last updated at 9:31 AM on 12th January 2012
Twelve Americans have been reported infected with a mutating and
now possibly human-to-human transmitted form of the H1N1 Swine Flu
virus called H3N2v.
An investigation undertaken by the U.S. Center for Disease Control
and Prevention found that human infections of these viruses
followed contact with swine as well as through 'limited
human-to-human transmission.'
'While there is no evidence that sustained human-to-human
transmission is occurring, all influenza viruses have the capacity
to change and it's possible that this virus may become
widespread,' the CDC explained through their website.
Breaking: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has
announced 12 Americans falling ill to a new flu strain with the
same 'matrix gene segment' found in the previous H1N1 virus shown
Breaking: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has
announced 12 Americans falling ill to a new flu strain with the
same 'matrix gene segment' found in the previous H1N1 virus shown
According to the report presented by the CDC, the virus has been
found in five states sprawled around the East Coast and Midwest
since August of 2011, though in a late November report they listed
the first as being in July.
Two of the 12 reported have been in Indiana, three in Iowa, two in
Maine, three in Pennsylvania, and two in West Virginia.
Scare: During the H1N1 outbreak between 2009 and mid-2010,
however, over 17,000 victims died worldwide labeling it as a
pandemic by the World Health Organization
Scare: During the H1N1 outbreak between 2009 and mid-2010,
however, over 17,000 victims died worldwide labeling it as a
pandemic by the World Health Organization
Out of 10 diagnosed with the virus excluding West Virginia's two
victims - reported in the CDC's November report - three were
hospitalized.
The CDC stated that the severity in illness following diagnosis
with the virus has been found similar to previous flu virus
infections with mild illness.
Transmitting: Three hospitalizations were reported within 10 of
the 12 illnesses by the CDC since last summer while three of them
were children who are believed to have transmitted it between one
another and recovered
Transmitting: Three hospitalizations were reported within 10 of
the 12 illnesses by the CDC since last summer while three of them
were children who are believed to have transmitted it between one
another and recovered
In a report released by the CDC on November 22, the three Iowa
victims were identified as three children, explained as all having
the virus with the same 'matrix gene segment' that was in the
previous H1N1 virus.
'Prior to the three cases in Iowa, most human infections with this
virus were associated with exposure to swine,' the CDC's report
reads.
'In Iowa, however, no swine exposure has been identified. At this
time, it appears that unsustainable human-to-human transmission
may have occurred,' it explains.
While those three children, who were described as in close contact
to one another, recovered from the virus, the CDC cautioned in
their later 2011 report that, 'These viruses are substantially
different from human influenza A (H3N2) viruses, so the seasonal
vaccine is expected to provide limited cross-protection among
adults and no protection to children.'
During the H1N1 outbreak between 2009 and mid-2010, over 17,000
victims died worldwide.
The swine flu strain's catastrophic impact deemed it a pandemic by
the World Health Organization.
With the H1N1 virus, most of those hospitalized were younger
adults and children rather than the elderly.