Swine influenza (H3N2) infection in a child and possible community transmission, Canada

Emerg Infect Dis. 2007 Dec;13(12):1865-70. doi: 10.3201/eid1312.070615.

Abstract

An influenza A virus (H3N2) of probable swine origin, designated A/Canada/1158/2006, was isolated from a 7-month-old hospitalized child who lived on a communal farm in Canada. The child recovered uneventfully. A serosurvey that used a hemagglutination-inhibition assay for A/Canada/1158/2006 was conducted on 54 of the 90 members of the farm. Seropositivity was demonstrated in the index patient, 4 of 7 household members, and 4 of 46 nonhousehold members; none had a history of hospital admission for respiratory illness in the preceding year. Serologic evidence for this strain of swine influenza was also found in 1 of 10 pigs (12 weeks-6 months of age) on the farm. Human infection with swine influenza virus is underrecognized in Canada, and because viral strains could adapt or reassort into a form that results in efficient human-to-human transmission, routine surveillance of swine workers should be considered as part of pandemic influenza preparedness.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Canada / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Environmental Exposure
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype*
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology
  • Influenza, Human / transmission
  • Influenza, Human / virology
  • Male
  • Occupational Exposure
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / transmission*
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / virology*
  • Serologic Tests
  • Swine
  • Swine Diseases / transmission*
  • Swine Diseases / virology*
  • Zoonoses / epidemiology
  • Zoonoses / transmission

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral