SIOUX CITY, IA -
Fair season is in full swing, with the Iowa State fair beginning this weekend, but, the Centers for Disease Control is warning fair-goers to take precautions to prevent the spread of H3N2V. It's a new virus similar to H1N1, and you can get it from pigs.
There have already been a total of 29 H3N2V cases reported. The CDC says the most recent cases occurred in people who had either direct or indirect contact with pigs that were sick. 10 of those cases occurred after attending a state fair.
"It's not hugely concerning, they don't want people to panic about it by any means," Michelle Clausen Rosendahl, from Siouxland District Health.
But the Centers for Disease Control do want you to be careful.
Here's why: H3N2V is similar to H1N1, the pandemic that affected the entire world in 2009, because it has the same gene that causes the virus to spread from swine to people.
At this point, H1N1 is still more potent.
"That was one that was shown to be able to jump from pigs to humans and then ultimately, could be spread from human to human, which makes it even more transmissible," Rosendahl said.
H3N2V has not passed from person to person yet, but the CDC hasn't ruled out the possibility, and is working to develop a vaccine.
"If it does start becoming a bit more common, we'll be ready to go and start vaccinating people," Rosendahl said.
Out of the 29 cases reported since July of last year, 23 of them had contact with swine before the illness occurred, and 19 cases were associated with fairs, where pigs were present.
In the last week, 12 new people become infected. And with the Iowa State Fair coming up, you may be wondering how you can stay safe.
The CDC says the number one way to keep this strand from spreading is something as simple as washing your hands.
"You shouldn't eat in animal areas, don't take food or beverages in areas where there are animals and don't eat in those areas," Rosendahl said.
Signs and symptoms of H-3-N-2-V are similar to regular influenza, and include: fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat and muscle aches.
Right now, the U-S-D-A has detected the H3N2 Virus in swine across the U.S. and say it may be circulating widely.
MORE INFO:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/spotlights/h3n2v_us_cases.htm
