Hat-tip Missouriwatcher for the link. The latest update from the PA DOH contains the text:
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=557490&mode=2
? A total of 70 influenza viruses have been confirmed by the state lab this season. This number includes, 37/53% influenza A (H3N2) viruses, 22/31% influenza A (H1N1) viruses, 7/10% influenza B and 4/6% untypeable influenza type A.
? In addittion to seasonal flu viruses that are currently circulating, 3 rare human infections with influenza viruses of swine origin have been detected in Pennsylvania. These viruses very rarely infect humans and have not been known to be transmissible from human to human in the past. However, this virus has been detected more frequently in the last six months and recent investigations in Iowa suggest that the virus may be transmissible from human to human. Individuals with influenza-like illnesses who have had exposure to swine, directly or indirectly, should let their physicians know as such illness may be from this rare virus. Further information on this can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6047a3.htm?s_cid=mm6047a3_w.
So what is going on here? Do the four unsubtypable detections represent trH3N2 cases (in which case is there one unreported case?)? Do they represent some other novel flu virus? Or are they an artifact of bad testing? Or are they still considering 2009 H1N1 as a novel virus? I tend to think of the three confirmed trH3N2 cases as occuring last summer (and thus not in this flu season)....
Update: There are graphs further down at the link that seems to be indicating several "novel influenza A" infections in weeks 9, 10, and 11. Any clue?
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=557490&mode=2
? A total of 70 influenza viruses have been confirmed by the state lab this season. This number includes, 37/53% influenza A (H3N2) viruses, 22/31% influenza A (H1N1) viruses, 7/10% influenza B and 4/6% untypeable influenza type A.
? In addittion to seasonal flu viruses that are currently circulating, 3 rare human infections with influenza viruses of swine origin have been detected in Pennsylvania. These viruses very rarely infect humans and have not been known to be transmissible from human to human in the past. However, this virus has been detected more frequently in the last six months and recent investigations in Iowa suggest that the virus may be transmissible from human to human. Individuals with influenza-like illnesses who have had exposure to swine, directly or indirectly, should let their physicians know as such illness may be from this rare virus. Further information on this can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6047a3.htm?s_cid=mm6047a3_w.
So what is going on here? Do the four unsubtypable detections represent trH3N2 cases (in which case is there one unreported case?)? Do they represent some other novel flu virus? Or are they an artifact of bad testing? Or are they still considering 2009 H1N1 as a novel virus? I tend to think of the three confirmed trH3N2 cases as occuring last summer (and thus not in this flu season)....
Update: There are graphs further down at the link that seems to be indicating several "novel influenza A" infections in weeks 9, 10, and 11. Any clue?
