CDC Continues to Monitor Uptick in H3N2v Cases
The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is closely watching a string of influenza called H3N2(v).
The number of confirmed cases has increased exponentially in the past week.
Last year, only 12 cases were reported.
As of Wednesday, the CDC had confirmed 146—none of which are in Georgia.
Almost all happened in the past week in Indiana, although Illinois and Ohio are also reporting an uptick.
But is the increase cause for concern?
“We don’t know at this point,” said Walter Orenstein, Associate Director of the Emory Vaccine Center. “It is not spreading easily in humans, which is encouraging. The real concern is—will it mutate further?”
If a mutation happens, human-to-human transmission could become more of a concern.
Almost all H3N2(v) cases are from children who report having close contact with pigs at various state fairs.
A specific vaccine is scheduled to undergo clinical trials later this year.
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