ST. PAUL, Minn. - Authorities are keeping a close eye on a new flu strain that has surfaced in Iowa. It's a swine flu but three children who recently recovered from the illness had no contact with pigs.
So health officials believe it may be moving from human to human.
Dr. Joe Bresee with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said health officials are closely watching the brand new strain called swine H3N2.
Minnesota state epidemiologist Dr. Ruth Lynfield with the Minnesota Department of Health described the new H3N2 virus as influenza from pigs with one new change. "One of the genes was a gene from the pandemic 2009 H1N1 strain," Lynfield said.
So is there fear that the new swine H3N2 could spread and become a more serious strain like H1N1? Bresee said there is always potential however, "We don't think there's any reason to be concerned right now. What we know about this virus is that it generally causes very mild disease."
Bresee said the current seasonal flu vaccine would likely offer very little to no protection against the new strain but it does protect you from other common strains that can be deadly. "This year tens of thousands of people may die of seasonal flu and vaccine prevents that," he said. So he says it's still important to get your annual flu shot.
Bresee said this year's flu vaccine seems to be a good match against seasonal strains circulating. Meantime, national and state health officials will continue to keep close watch on the new H3N2.
"CDC has sent this virus to vaccine manufacturers to start working on development of the vaccine should it become a problem," Lynfield said.
Officials say the best defense against any illness is to wash your hands often. If you do get ill, cover your cough and stay home until you are well.
And it's not too late to get a flu shot. The Minnesota Department of Health's is holding a number of Ban the Bug Flu shot clinics in December.
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