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Milford —
Delaware's Division of Public Health has alerted health care providers to a number of new swine-origin strains of influenza A that have been spotted in other parts of the country.
A reason for the surge in reported cases is not clear but could be the result of better detection through improved laboratory methods and increased surveillance or a genuine increase in infections.
The CDC reports the new sub-strain, H3N2, has not caused any deaths. However, it can still cause severe illness and require hospitalization. H3N2 has been identified in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Maine and Iowa. A Minnesota child also contracted a different sub-strain, H1N2.
It is not known if current flu vaccines will provide immunity against the two new sub-strains, although H3N2 is similar to viruses that circulated in the 1990s so older individuals may have partial immunity. The H1N2 virus resembles a strain that circulated as late as 2007 so those with prior exposure may have partial immunity as well.
Antiviral medications oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) can be used to treat both H3N2 and H1N2 subtypes.
There have been no documented illnesses to date in Delaware from either of these two strains. The only known subtype to circulate in the state during the 2010-2011 season were the expected strains: 2009 H1N1, seasonal influenza A H 3 and influenza B.
Health authorities stress that prevention is the best medicine, and everyone should take care to wash their hands, cover their coughs and sneezes and get a flu shot.
A reason for the surge in reported cases is not clear but could be the result of better detection through improved laboratory methods and increased surveillance or a genuine increase in infections.
The CDC reports the new sub-strain, H3N2, has not caused any deaths. However, it can still cause severe illness and require hospitalization. H3N2 has been identified in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Maine and Iowa. A Minnesota child also contracted a different sub-strain, H1N2.
It is not known if current flu vaccines will provide immunity against the two new sub-strains, although H3N2 is similar to viruses that circulated in the 1990s so older individuals may have partial immunity. The H1N2 virus resembles a strain that circulated as late as 2007 so those with prior exposure may have partial immunity as well.
Antiviral medications oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) can be used to treat both H3N2 and H1N2 subtypes.
There have been no documented illnesses to date in Delaware from either of these two strains. The only known subtype to circulate in the state during the 2010-2011 season were the expected strains: 2009 H1N1, seasonal influenza A H 3 and influenza B.
Health authorities stress that prevention is the best medicine, and everyone should take care to wash their hands, cover their coughs and sneezes and get a flu shot.
Delaware's Division of Public Health has alerted health care providers to a number of new swine-origin strains of influenza A that have been spotted in other parts of the country.
A reason for the surge in reported cases is not clear but could be the result of better detection through improved laboratory methods and increased surveillance or a genuine increase in infections.
The CDC reports the new sub-strain, H3N2, has not caused any deaths. However, it can still cause severe illness and require hospitalization. H3N2 has been identified in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Maine and Iowa. A Minnesota child also contracted a different sub-strain, H1N2.
It is not known if current flu vaccines will provide immunity against the two new sub-strains, although H3N2 is similar to viruses that circulated in the 1990s so older individuals may have partial immunity. The H1N2 virus resembles a strain that circulated as late as 2007 so those with prior exposure may have partial immunity as well.
Antiviral medications oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) can be used to treat both H3N2 and H1N2 subtypes.
There have been no documented illnesses to date in Delaware from either of these two strains. The only known subtype to circulate in the state during the 2010-2011 season were the expected strains: 2009 H1N1, seasonal influenza A H 3 and influenza B.
Health authorities stress that prevention is the best medicine, and everyone should take care to wash their hands, cover their coughs and sneezes and get a flu shot.
A reason for the surge in reported cases is not clear but could be the result of better detection through improved laboratory methods and increased surveillance or a genuine increase in infections.
The CDC reports the new sub-strain, H3N2, has not caused any deaths. However, it can still cause severe illness and require hospitalization. H3N2 has been identified in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Maine and Iowa. A Minnesota child also contracted a different sub-strain, H1N2.
It is not known if current flu vaccines will provide immunity against the two new sub-strains, although H3N2 is similar to viruses that circulated in the 1990s so older individuals may have partial immunity. The H1N2 virus resembles a strain that circulated as late as 2007 so those with prior exposure may have partial immunity as well.
Antiviral medications oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) can be used to treat both H3N2 and H1N2 subtypes.
There have been no documented illnesses to date in Delaware from either of these two strains. The only known subtype to circulate in the state during the 2010-2011 season were the expected strains: 2009 H1N1, seasonal influenza A H 3 and influenza B.
Health authorities stress that prevention is the best medicine, and everyone should take care to wash their hands, cover their coughs and sneezes and get a flu shot.
