Via CIDRAP: FLU NEWS SCAN: Novel H3N2 case in Utah, H1N1 in India. Excerpt:
Health officials in Utah today announced that a Weber County resident has tested positive for a novel reassortant H3N2 (H3N2v) influenza virus, the same strain that sickened 12 patients last summer and fall in five other states.
A press release from the Weber-Morgan Health Department (WMHD), based in Ogden, said tests by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Utah Department of Health (UDH) confirmed the finding.
The swine-origin H3N2v strain includes the M (matrix) gene from the pandemic 2009 H1N1 (pH1N1) virus. Gary House, MPH, director of the WMHD, said in the statement that the CDC and Utah officials are trying to determine how the individual was exposed to the virus.
He said the patient was not hospitalized and has recovered at home. The patient's contacts have been asked to report any flu-like symptoms.
He advised the community to take routine flu-prevention precautions such as covering coughs and sneezes, staying home when sick, and washing hands frequently.
