A 61-year-old Ohio woman is the first confirmed death associated with the H3N2v virus, the latest strain of the swine flu, according to the state health department.
There are 102 confirmed cases in 25 counties in Ohio. Butler County leads all counties with 17 confirmed cases, followed by Champaign County with 15 and Gallia County with 12.
The Madison County woman died earlier this week after coming in direct contact with swine at the Ross County Fair, which ran from Aug. 4 to 11. Ross County is in south central Ohio. The main risk factor for infection is direct exposure to swine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"H3N2v, like many other viruses, has the greatest potential to impact those with weakened immune systems," said Dr. Ted Wymyslo, director of the Ohio Department of Health. "We have been seeing a mild illness in most individuals infected with the H3N2v virus, so there's no need for alarm. However, it is important for those at-risk individuals to take extra precautions like avoiding swine exhibits to protect themselves."
Most of the infected people have either recovered on their own or were treated and released after a brief stay in a hospital, according to the state health department.
Ohio Department of Agriculture Communications Director Erica Pitchford said only about a dozen of the 102 confirmed cases resulted in a hospital stay, and those were brief stays. She said the confirmed cases are mild, and the death of the Madison County woman is rare.
"It's likely there were some other underlying issues there that just made that person in worse shape for any kind of infection," she said. "Most of the symptoms have been mild and mass majority of the folks have not been hospitalized."
The first incidents of swine flu were uncovered at the Butler County Fair, which was held from July 22 to 28. On Aug. 1, the Ohio Department of Health investigated flu illness from the fair and preliminary positive showed evidence of the H3N2v strain of influenza.
"That was the incident that really brought it to our attention and we've been on the look out for it," Pitchford said.
Butler County Health Commissioner Dr. Robert Lerer said those who had become ill from the H3N2v virus should be recovered and pose no risk of complications.
"As new cases appear within that grouping of people who could become infected with the so-called swine flu, someone may develop encephalitis and develop a swelling of the brain," he said. "But there's no risk of death or complications of those patients who have since recovered."
Lerer's bigger concern is the West Nile virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. The first West Nile-related death of 2012 happened earlier this week when a 76-year-old Cincinnati man was hospitalized after contracting the virus.
There are 30 fairs either currently underway — including the Montgomery County Fair — or planned to begin in either later this month or in October.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture has been in regular contact with the county fair boards and fair veterinarians, Pitchford said.
"We're definitely concerned," she said. "A mass majority of these illnesses are in young people visiting these animals at the these fairs."
Increased signage and awareness will be at the fairs, but enforcement of the rules — no food or drinks, no strollers, no touching of animals and hand washing in swine barns or areas — will be up to the individual fairs, she said.
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Pitchford said this "incident" of swine flu is being closely watched and not being considered an outbreak, unlike in 2009 when the H1N1 virus had mutated and evolved into a pandemic.
"This is not mutating," she said.
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Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or michael.pitman@coxinc.com.
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