First human case of new swine flu strain detected in UK
The UK’s first human case of a new swine flu strain – which is similar to viruses currently circulating in pigs – has been detected, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.
Officials are working rapidly to trace close contacts of the case and reduce any potential spread to the wider public.
Influenza A(H1N2)v was detected as part of routine national flu surveillance undertaken by UKHSA and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).
The individual concerned experienced a mild illness and has fully recovered. The UKHSA said the source of their infection has not yet been confirmed and remains under investigation.
It is working closely with partners to determine the characteristics of the pathogen and assess the risk to human health.
Close contacts of the case are being followed up by the UKHSA and partner organisations. They will be offered testing where necessary and advised on any further care if they have symptoms or test positive.
Meera Chand, incident director at UKHSA, said: “It is thanks to routine flu surveillance and genome sequencing that we have been able to detect this virus. This is the first time we have detected this virus in humans in the UK, though it is very similar to viruses that have been detected in pigs.
“We are working rapidly to trace close contacts and reduce any potential spread. In accordance with established protocols, investigations are underway to learn how the individual acquired the infection and to assess whether there are any further associated cases.”
The UKHSA is working with GP surgeries and hospitals in parts of North Yorkshire to increase surveillance.
People with any respiratory symptoms are advised to continue to follow the existing guidance and avoid contact with other people while symptoms persist, particularly if the people they are coming into contact with are elderly or have existing medical conditions.
Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss urged pig keepers to report any suspicion of swine flu in their herds to their local vet immediately.
In 2009, there was a pandemic in humans caused by an influenza virus commonly referred to as swine flu.
That virus contained genetic material from viruses that were circulating in pigs, birds and humans in the 1990s and 2000s.
There have been a total of 50 human cases of influenza A(H1N2)v reported globally since 2005, although none of them related genetically to this strain.
It is too early to determine if this newly detected strain could have pandemic potential.
