The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed the country’s first human case of the swine flu strain H1N2, closely resembling the variant circulating in pigs. Detected through routine surveillance in general practitioner surgeries, the individual experienced a mild illness and has fully recovered.
Contact tracing is underway to prevent potential virus spread, and the World Health Organisation has been notified. The virus’s transmissibility and pandemic potential are yet unknown, with around 50 reported human cases worldwide since 2005, genetically unrelated to this strain.
The patient, unrelated to pig farming, tested positive in North Yorkshire during routine national flu surveillance. Monitoring closely, the UKHSA urges those with respiratory symptoms to follow existing guidance, emphasizing increased surveillance in North Yorkshire.
Meera Chand, incident director at the UKHSA, highlighted the importance of routine flu surveillance and genome sequencing in detecting the virus. Investigations aim to understand the infection’s source and assess potential additional cases.
Chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, emphasized the significance of maintaining high animal health, welfare, and biosecurity standards to prevent zoonotic disease transmission.
The detected strain differs from recent global H1N2 cases but aligns with viruses found in UK pigs. The incident recalls the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, underlining the ongoing importance of surveillance and rapid response to emerging infectious diseases.
