H3N2 flu infections also on the increase

August 15, 2009

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Health authorities yesterday warned of outbreaks of not only

the A(H1N1) virus but also the H3N2 strain, while placing emphasis on the

possible mutations of the latter.

Another four acute swine flu infections, including one H3N2 case, were

confirmed, placing the total tally at present at nine, which includes one

fatality, reported local media.

But symptoms of the latest severe infections have been milder than earlier

cases, with none of the patients in critical condition, suggesting the

effectiveness of disease prevention education, noted health officials.

As of Tuesday, 16 massive outbreaks in communities have been recorded. One of

the group contagions is of the H3N2 subtype of the influenza A virus.

The only H3N2 collective infection was reported in a dance troupe at an

elementary school in Taipei that had recently returned from Shenzhen in southern

China, according to CNA.

It is still unclear whether or not the H3N2 infections were related to the

current H3N2 outbreaks in Hong Kong, said reports.

Lin Ding, the deputy director general of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC),

was cited as saying that it is possible the patients contracted the virus in

Taiwan, Shenzhen or Hong Kong judging from the outbreak.

He went on to add that the latest severe A(H1N1) infections showed complications

as a result of respiratory infections, but the patients' conditions are largely

stable

since they had sought medical attention and taken the antiviral drug Tamiflu

before signs of the disease could intensify.

Young children under 10 and men in their 30s are more susceptible to the new

strain due to their lack of antibodies, Lin said.

H3N2 is a subtype of the flu virus that can infect birds and mammals and has

mutated into many strains, increasingly abundant in seasonal influenza.

-flu.htm

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