On Monday, Britain reported the detection of its first human case of the flu strain A(H1N2)v, similar to a virus currently circulating in pigs. The individual, who had a mild illness, has fully recovered, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
The UKHSA identified the case during routine national flu surveillance, and the source of infection is unknown. Meera Chand, incident director at UKHSA, stated, “This is the first time we have detected this virus in humans in the UK, although it closely resembles viruses found in pigs.”
Authorities are actively following up with close contacts of the case, and increased surveillance is underway in surgeries and hospitals in North Yorkshire, a region in northern England.
In 2009, a swine flu pandemic in humans infected millions, caused by a virus containing genetic material from pigs, birds, and humans.
The UKHSA noted that, based on early information, the recently detected infection in Britain differs from the approximately 50 other human cases of the strain found globally since 2005.
