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Archive Number 20091106.3834
Published Date 06-NOV-2009
Subject PRO/AH/EDR> Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (22): USA, swine

INFLUENZA PANDEMIC (H1N1) 2009, ANIMAL (22): USA, SWINE
*******************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

[1] Indiana, Minnesota
[2] Minnesota, South Dakota

******
[1] Indiana, Minnesota
Date: Wed 4 Nov 2009
Source: Twin Cities Pioneer Press, Associated Press (AP) report [edited]
<http://www.twincities.com/ci_13712025>


Commercial pigs in Indiana test positive for H1N1 flu
-----------------------------------------------------
The US Department of Agriculture says pigs in a commercial herd in Indiana 
have tested positive for the H1N1 flu virus. This is the 1st instance of 
H1N1 flu, also known as swine flu, in a commercial herd in the United States.

The USDA says it discovered 4 tissue samples that tested positive for the 
virus using its swine surveillance program. The USDA says the pigs as well 
as the people caring for the pigs have recovered. The sample was collected 
in late October [2009].

Last month [October 2009], tests confirmed several show pigs at the 
Minnesota State Fair contracted the virus.

[byline: Henry C Jackson]

-- 
communicated by:
ProMED-mail rapporteur Brent Barrett

[Which herd was first: Minnesota swine at the fair or the commercial herd 
in Indiana? Neither report on these 2 instances has been very clear about 
the outbreak, only that it was detected and the affected have recovered. - 
Mod.TG]

******
[2] Minnesota, South Dakota
Date: Mon 2 Nov 2009
Source: Hobby Farms [edited]
<http://www.hobbyfarms.com/farm-industry-news/2009/11/02/five-more-pigs-h1n1.aspx>


5 more pigs found with H1N1 virus
---------------------------------
University study researching human-pig interaction looks to reduce flu spread.

The National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed 5 more pigs from the 
Minnesota and South Dakota [state fairs] with the H1N1 virus.

The infected pigs were tested as part of a study, "Swine Influenza at State 
and County Fairs," proposed by Greg Gray, director of the Center for 
Emerging Infectious Diseases at the University of Iowa, to better 
understand the spread of influenza in places where pigs and animals converge.

"The fair setting was investigated because during 2005 to 2008, the Center 
for Disease Control and state and local health partners had identified a 
number of sporadic cases of swine influenza infection where the infected 
person had most likely been exposed at a fair or other public setting," 
said Jeff Bender, director of the International Cooperative Zoonotic 
Influenza Research Center (ICZIRC) at the University of Minnesota, which is 
funding the study.

The study began before the H1N1 pandemic arose, Bender said, and the 
particular strain of the virus was not a focus of the study. Researchers 
tested 50 pigs at the Minnesota State Fair in 2008, and 102 pigs at the 
Minnesota and South Dakota state fairs in 2009. In addition to the 6 total 
cases of H1N1, one pig was found to have H1N2, a strain of flu rarely found 
in humans.

Although Gray said that the research team has not decided whether to 
continue the study in 2010, the results could help pig farmers have a 
better understanding of how to keep themselves and their herds healthy. 
"It's important to know that these viruses move from man to pigs and back 
again," Gray said. "They can mix with other viruses in man or pigs and out 
can come new viruses that cause much more problems."

Right now, the research team is looking for evidence where the influenza 
viruses cross over between species so they can make recommendations for how 
to reduce flu transmission. This involves documenting virus transmissions, 
determining risk factors and testing methods of intervention. In the 
meantime, they are advocating for pig farmers and veterinarians to be 
short-listed for the H1N1 vaccine.

"Swine veterinarians are important in reducing this problem and we have to 
protect them like we protect workers in hospitals," Gray said. Gray also 
recommends people working with swine receive the seasonal flu vaccine and 
educate themselves in biosecurity measures. Limiting human contact with 
pigs, especially in cases of sick humans, and using protective equipment 
can reduce disease transmission.

The pigs were not tracked after testing and the researchers could not 
comment on what happened to the infected pigs. The H1N1 virus continues to 
threaten humans more than pigs, Gray said.

The University of Minnesota's ICZIRC houses 6 other studies investigating 
influenza viruses and their effects on human health. The center was 
established because of increasing interactions among humans, livestock, 
poultry, and wildlife that have resulted in the emergence of zoonotic diseases.

[byline: Rachael Brugger]

-- 
communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[Understanding where and how the viruses connect to different species host 
as well as how to improve biosecurity may be 2 very important aspects of 
this study. - Mod.TG

The states mentioned can be located on the HealthMap/ProMED-mail 
interactive map of the US at <http://healthmap.org/r/00DI>. - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]

[see also:
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (21): USA (IA) feline 20091105.3816
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (20): USA (NE) ferret 20091101.3777
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (19): Iceland swine, OIE 20091028.3737
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (18): Canada (ON) avian, OIE 
20091027.3719
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (17): Japan (OS) swine, OIE 
20091022.3635
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (16): Canada (ON) avian 20091022.3629
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal health (15): USA (OR) ferret 
20091021.3618
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal health (14): Canada (ON), avian 
20091020.3602
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (13): USA swine, conf. 20091020.3600
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (12): USA swine, susp 20091019.3592
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal health (11): Norway 20091019.3589
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal health (10): Ireland 20091002.3427
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal (09): UK (NI) swine, OIE 20090918.3280
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal health (08): Singapore, swine 
20090904.3114
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal health (07): Chile, avian 20090829.3036
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal health (06): Canada, swine 
20090828.3027
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal health (05): Austr., swine 
20090826.2999
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal health (04): Chile, avian, OIE 
20090823.2978
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal health (03): Chile, avian, RFI 
20090821.2961
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal health (02): Austr., swine 
20090820.2951
Influenza pandemic (H1N1) 2009, animal health: Canada (QC) 20090729.2661

.................sb/tg/mj/sh



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