Rhiza Labs FluTracker Forum

Young Wilmington mother’s life lost to H1N1
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Since the spring, 74 people have died in North Carolina from the flu, predominantly from the H1N1 strain.

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Although there has been a decline in swine-flu cases recently, local health officials expect a third wave to sweep through the Triad in January and February.

"No one really has built up an immunity to the H1N1 virus," said Dr. Christopher Ohl, an infectious-disease specialist at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

"That will change over the next two years, but that's why there's a need for a vaccine and the need for people to take it once it's available."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the virus has struck about 50 million Americans -- or about 16 percent -- and claimed about 10,000 lives since it was first identified in April. Children under age 18 account for about 10 percent of those deaths.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services said that as of last Tuesday, there have been 76 North Carolina deaths related to swine flu.
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State confirms pigs at two NC farms had H1N1 flu virus
staff reports • December 24, 2009

RALEIGH -- The N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services has announced that pigs at two farms in the state had confirmed cases of the H1NI flu virus, but the department noted the animals have recovered and stressed that humans cannot contract the flu from pork products.

Here's the press release from the department:

A federal laboratory has confirmed the presence of the 2009 novel H1N1 flu virus in samples taken from pigs at two N.C. farms. North Carolina is the 10th state with identified cases of H1N1 in animals.

The animals have been under the care of a private veterinarian and have recovered from the illness.

“The herd veterinarian noticed signs of mild illness in the pigs and conducted tests to determine the type,” State Veterinarian David Marshall said. “Confirmatory tests by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, indicated the virus was H1N1.

“Pigs are subject to flu viruses just like humans, so it’s not unexpected to find it in a herd,” Marshall said. “These cases show that our surveillance system is working.”

People cannot contract H1N1 from handling or consuming pork or pork products, according to the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The U.S. meat inspection system provides an additional safeguard by inspecting all animals presented for slaughter.

 “We want to reassure the public that it is safe to eat pork from swine that have been infected previously and recovered from influenza viruses, including novel viruses,” State Health Director Jeff Engel said.“As always, we will continue to work closely with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to protect the health and safety of the public.”

Dr. Tom Ray, director of livestock health at the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, said it appears the pigs at both farms caught the virus from humans. The herd owners indicated that workers who had contact with the animals had exhibited flu-like illness in the days preceding the animals’ illness, Ray said.

North Carolina joins Minnesota, Indiana and Illinois with confirmed cases of novel H1N1 flu in pigs. The virus also has been identified in cats in Iowa, Oregon and Pennsylvania; ferrets in Oregon, turkeys in Virginia, a dog in New York and a cheetah in California. In all these cases, it appears the animals caught the virus from humans.

Week 5 - 1 new death (total 84)

Percent positive specimens increased slightly (per Dr. Niman's prediction)

http://www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/gcdc/pdf/flu0910.pdf