Novel Influenza A Virus (H7N9)

Influenza (Flu)

"2012 Variant Flu"

(Influenza Variant Viruses: Influenza A H3N2v and H1N2v)

on this page:
Background
Symptoms
Transmission
Minimizing Your Risk
If You Get Sick
Statistics
More Information

Background

Pigs are commonly infected with swine influenza ("Variant Flu") viruses that are usually different from human influenza viruses. While rare, influenza can spread from pigs to people and from people to pigs.
Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with influenza viruses that normally circulate in swine and not people have occurred. When this happens, these viruses are called “variant viruses.”
- Variant influenza A H3N2 virus ("H3N2v") are viruses that do not usually infect people but occur in pigs, and are very different from human seasonal H3N2 viruses. A number of human infections with H3N2v have been detected in the United States since August 2011.
- Similarly, the Variant influenza A H1N2 ("H1N2v") virus strain is different from the human seasonal H1N2 virus. H1N2v is also different from the H3N2v strain that has prompted stepped up surveillance and prevention efforts nationwide.

Symptoms

So far, the severity of illnesses associated with "2012 Variant Flu" have been similar to seasonal flu.
Influenza symptoms come on quickly in the form of fever, dry cough, sore throat, headache, extreme tiredness, stuffed-up nose, and body aches. These symptoms can be severe and put you in bed for several days.
Influenza is caused by a virus that attacks the nose, throat, and lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness and at times can lead to death.
Persons with increased risk for severe infulenza illness include:
- Children younger than 5 years
- people 65 years or older
- pregnant women
- people with certain chronic medical conditions (like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, weakened immune systems, and neurological or neurodevelopmental conditions).

Transmission

Most commonly, human infections with variant viruses occur in people with exposure to infected pigs (children near pigs at a fair or workers in the swine industry).
While there is no evidence at this time that sustained human-to-human transmission of "2012 Variant Flu" is occurring, all influenza viruses have the capacity to change and it's possible that this virus may become widespread.
H3N2v is not transmissible by eating properly handled and prepared pork (pig meat) or other products derived from pigs.

Minimizing Your Risk
You can help prevent spread of influenza and other viruses:

Wash your hands frequently with soap and running water before and after exposure to animals.
- If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Always wash hands thoroughly after contact with farm animals, pets, animal feces, and animal environments.
- Hand Hygiene: more information on hand washing.
Never eat, drink or put things in your mouth in animal areas.
- Don’t take food or drink into animal areas.
- Never take toys, pacifiers, spill-proof cups, baby bottles, strollers or similar items into animal areas.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Persons at high risk for influenza complications should avoid swine exposure. Persons at high risk include: Children younger than 5 years, people 65 years or older, pregnant women, and people with certain chronic medical conditions (like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, weakened immune systems, and neurological or neurodevelopmental conditions).
Avoid close contact with pigs that look or act ill.
- Watch your pigs for signs of illness and call a veterinarian if you suspect they might be sick.
Avoid contact with pigs if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms.
- Avoid contact for 7 days after symptoms begin or until you have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, whichever is longer.
Take appropriate protective measures if you must come in contact with pigs if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, or if you must be in the vicinity of pigs known or suspected to be infected with influenza viruses.
- Protective measures include wearing protective clothing, gloves, masks that cover your mouth and nose, and other personal protective equipment.
Always cover coughs and sneezes, and wash your hands often.
If you must come in contact with pigs while you are sick, or if you must come in contact with pigs known or suspected to be infected, or their environment, you should use appropriate protective measures (for example, wear protective clothing, gloves, masks that cover your mouth and nose, and other personal protective equipment) and practice good respiratory and hand hygiene.

If You Get Sick

If you have flu symptoms, follow regular recommendations for seeking treatment for influenza.

If you have symptoms of flu and are very sick or worried about your illness contact your health care provider.
- If you go to a doctor for flu symptoms following direct or close contact with swine, tell your doctor about this exposure.
- If you are at greater risk of serious flu-related complications, it’s best to contact your doctor as soon as possible. (The majority of recent H3N2v cases have been in children.)
Health care providers will determine whether influenza testing and possible treatment are needed.
- Your doctor may prescribe antiviral drugs that can treat the flu, including H3N2v or H1N2v. These drugs work better for treatment the sooner they are started. If you are prescribed antiviral drugs by your doctor, you should finish all of the medication, according to your doctor’s instructions.

Statistics

2012 Variant Flu Statistics
Minnesota and national statistics for influenza A variant viruses
H3N2v and H1N2v.
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