Reports from English health officials have confirmed that a person in North Yorkshire recovered from a mild illness caused by influenza A(H1N2)v, a flu virus that originated in pigs. This marks the first instance of such a transmission in the UK, prompting public health doctors to investigate the source of the infection due to its potential to cause pandemics.
Thankfully, the individual has fully recovered. Despite the concerning nature of the transmission, historical data reveals that this strain of flu has previously crossed from pigs to humans without causing widespread outbreaks. Paul Hunter at the University of East Anglia, UK, emphasized that previous infections caused by this type of virus have not been more severe than seasonal flu strains. As a result, he expressed minimal concern, indicating that this virus should be closely monitored.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed that the virus in the North Yorkshire case differs from previous human cases of influenza A(H1N2), but shares similarities with viruses found in UK pigs. The infected person sought medical attention from their family doctor, who sent a sample for testing as part of the national routine flu surveillance programme. As a result, testing at primary care clinics and hospitals in parts of North Yorkshire has been intensified.
Meera Chand of the UKHSA stated that the agency is swiftly tracing close contacts to minimize potential spread, and ongoing investigations aim to determine the source of infection and identify any further associated cases. Additionally, pig keepers are urged to promptly report any suspected swine flu cases in their herds to their local vet.
Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss stressed the importance of reporting any suspicion of swine flu in herds immediately. She highlighted the 2009 H1N1 flu virus pandemic, which originated in pigs, birds, and humans and is now part of the viruses causing seasonal flu, and the H5N1 bird flu, which has been causing a significant outbreak among domestic and wild birds since 2021.
