The Indiana Department of Health is confirming more than 100 cases of a flu virus in the state, which officials say is showing up in swine.
Health experts say Variant Influenza A, also known as H3N2v, has sickened 113 people in 18 counties. Those are: Bartholomew, Greene, Hamilton, Hendricks, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, Kosciusko, LaPorte, Lawrence, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Porter, Scott, Tipton, Washington, and White.
Health Commissioner Dr. Gregory Larkin says this is a relatively new strain of flu, which first appeared a year ago, so there is no vaccine available yet. He calls this a mild illness with symptoms similar to the seasonal flu.
The department reports cases showing up now are in people who work directly with pigs, and the transmission of the flu does not appear to be from one person to another.
Animal experts say it’s still safe to eat pork, because you cannot catch the virus that way.