New Jersey Department of Agriculture

Memo

To: Veterinarians, Livestock Producers

From: Nancy E. Halpern, DVM, State Veterinarian

Date: May 5, 2009

Re: Influenza A (H1N1) Update

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture is part of the State government team responding to the outbreak of novel influenza A (H1N1) that has been confirmed in at least seven residents of New Jersey.

To date, most of the cases in New Jersey and elsewhere in the United States have exhibited mild symptoms and have been treated successfully with conventional flu drugs. The earliest and most severe cases, some of which resulted in death, occurred in Mexico.

To date, no swine or other animals in New Jersey have been shown to have the illness. However, this strain is a combination of human, bird and swine flu strains and therefore could potentially be passed from humans to animals.

Accordingly, the Department of Agriculture is urging all New Jersey farmers to be mindful of any employees exhibiting symptoms of this flu strain. They include: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with H1N1 Influenza. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with H1N1 Influenza infection in people. Like seasonal flu, H1N1 Influenza may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

If any of your employees exhibit symptoms of this flu strain, please ensure that they seek and receive immediate medical attention as this flu has been shown to pass easily from human to human and may have the potential to pass from humans to certain livestock animals.

The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services has established a hotline number with more information about this outbreak. That number is 1-866-321-9571.

If you are a livestock farmer, please also monitor your livestock for symptoms, which are similar to those exhibited by humans. If you believe any of your animals may have this flu, please contact the Division of Animal Health at 609-292-3965.

For more information on the Internet, please visit http://www.state.nj.us/agriculture/divisions/ah/news/biosecurity.html or http://nj.gov/governor/news/news/2009/approved/20090430a.html.