H3N2 flu virus are on the GO!
By: Giv2Cure (Kerry)
All credits go to websites (articles): http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/news/2010/08/cdc-issues-alert-on-seasonal-influenza-a-h3n2-virus-infections.aspx, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza_A_virus_subtype_H3N2, and http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/general/news/aug0510flu.html


All, please get your flu shots this season. H3N2 is back and dirty.

This type A influenza subtype H3N2 causes illnesses to humans, birds and other mammals, and kills an estimated 36,000 people in the United States each year (wringdiagnosis.pub).

It has been known to cause pandemics in Hong Kong and other areas. Just recently, there've been cases of outbreak in college students and in childcare settings within the US, confirmed and tested positive through polymerase chain reaction techniques. These patients had connections to traveling outside of Iowa. "In addition to the Iowa outbreaks, between Jun 20 and Jul 23, there were found H3-positive specimens from 11 other states and a 'smaller number of sporadic samples' that tested positive for the 2009 H1N1 and influenza B viruses" (Roos,R. ,CDC).

"The perth-like H3N2 viruses were first identified in early 2009, but have not yet circulated widely in the United States" (Roos,R.). H3N2 emerged in the pandemic of 1968-69, and is forseen to have more severe effects than the seasonal H1N1 virus.

Symptoms:

Runny nose
Sore throat
Aching muscles
Headache
Cough
Nasal congestion
Malaise
Fever
Watery eyes
Aching joints
Chills
Fatigue
Red eyes
Red skin
Red nose
Red throat
Loss of appetite
Weakness

-G2C