 IDPH is working with local, state and federal health officials,
including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, the Illinois Department of Agriculture,
and the Coles County Health Department, to identify how a child who
attended the Coles County Fair contracted the virus last week. This
child has not been hospitalized. CDC is conducting additional
laboratory testing.H3N2v is a variant form of influenza A, which
was first detected in 2011. The CDC is currently reporting more than
a dozen cases in the U.S. this year, but CDC was to update its
numbers later Thursday, and they are expected rise dramatically.
Most infections have occurred following contact with swine, and
cases of the virus being transmitted from person to person are rare.
So far, the severity of illnesses associated with this virus in
people has been similar to the severity of illnesses associated with
seasonal flu virus infections.
"The H3N2v virus is relatively new, but the Illinois Department
of Public Health, the Illinois Department of Agriculture and our
federal partners are monitoring this situation closely," said IDPH
Director LaMar Hasbrouck. "We want you to enjoy your time at the
state or county fair, so one key thing to do to stay healthy is to
wash your hands frequently, especially if you are around swine."
The state health department and the state agriculture department
have increased hand-washing stations on the state fairgrounds and
provided guidance and prevention recommendations to fair exhibitors,
local health departments and health care providers. The department
of agriculture looks at every animal at the fairgrounds, and a
veterinarian is on-site.
[to top of second column] |
Tips to avoid influenza:
-
Wash your hands
frequently with soap and water before and after exposure to
animals.
-
Do not eat, drink
or put anything in your mouth while visiting animal areas.
-
Do not take food
or drinks into animal areas.
-
Avoid close
contact with animals that look or act ill.
-
Use caution when deciding to visit an
animal area if you have an underlying health condition.
Influenza is contracted through droplets when an infected person
or animal coughs or sneezes. Those droplets can either be inhaled or
can be on a surface you touch with your hand, and then touch your
mouth or nose.
Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy
nose, body aches, headache, and fatigue. Illness can last a week or
two.
Certain people have a higher risk of serious infection from
influenza, including the very young, elderly, pregnant women, people
with weakened immune systems and those with asthma, diabetes and
heart disease.
If you have, or do come into contact with swine and are
experiencing flu symptoms, contact your health care provider.
[Text from
Illinois
Department of Public Health file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |
