An additional case of variant H3N2 influenza has been confirmed in a Minnesota resident, according to officials at the Minnesota Department of Health.  The latest case was reported in a man in his twenties from the Twin Cities metro area. The man had purchased a pig at a live animal market in Dakota County on Aug. 17th.
                    
MDH officials emphasized that they expect to continue seeing more cases of the illness, and that the virus has not become more virulent or more easily spread.  The latest Minnesota case is the third to occur in a state resident who had visited a live animal market. Minnesota had previously recorded one confirmed and one probable case in children whose family had been to a live animal market.
                   
MDH officials emphasized, however, that those cases should not be taken as evidence of any unique risk associated with live animal markets.  Health officials also emphasized that you can't get H3N2 from eating pork - H3N2 is in no way a food safety issue.