NewsDesk @bactiman63

Two human infections with novel influenza A viruses were reported. One infection with an influenza A(H1N1) variant (A(H1N1)v) virus was reported by North Dakota that occurred during the 2020-21 influenza season and one infection with an influenza (A(H3N2)v) virus was reported by Ohio that occurred during the 2021-22 influenza season.

Image/US Govt

Both patients are <18 years of age, were not hospitalized, and have recovered or are recovering from their illness.

One of the patients had close contact with swine prior to illness onset. The other patient had no known swine contact or attendance at agricultural exhibits where swine were present; it is possible that limited human-to-human transmission occurred. No ongoing human-to-human transmission has been identified associated with either patient.

When an influenza virus that normally circulates in swine (but not people) is detected in a person, it is called a “variant influenza virus”. Most human infections with variant influenza viruses occur following close proximity to swine, but human-to-human transmission can occur. It is important to note that in most cases, variant influenza viruses have not shown the ability to spread easily and sustainably from person to person.

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During the 2021-22 influenza season, one human infection with novel influenza A virus has been reported in the United States: H3N2v (OH). During the 2020-21 influenza season, 11 human infections with a novel influenza A virus were reported in the United States, including two H3N2v (IA, WI), three H1N2v (IA, OH (2)), and six H1N1v (IA, NC, ND, WI (3)) virus infections.