And in another development that underscores how dynamic the intersection is between pigs, people and influenza viruses, health authorities in Minnesota announced Friday they have found three people infected with a different swine flu virus, an H1N2 variant virus.
An unidentified Ohio woman became the first to succumb to infection with H3N2v, which was first seen in people in the U.S. last summer. The virus has triggered an explosion of cases -- 288 at last count -- in 10 states this summer.
The woman, 61, was from Madison County near the centre of the state. She reportedly had chronic health problems before she came down with H3N2v after visiting the pig exhibit at a county fair.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control expressed sympathies, but used the opportunity to warn that people who have serious health problems should avoid swine at the current time.
