By NewsDesk  @bactiman63

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported one human infection with a novel influenza A virus in Wisconsin.

Image/Mutinka

This person was infected with an influenza A(H3N2) variant (A(H3N2)v) virus. The patient is a child < 18 years of age, was not hospitalized, and has completely recovered from their illness.

Investigation into the source of the infection revealed that the child lives on a farm with swine present. This is the first influenza A(H3N2)v virus infection detected in the United States in 2021.

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Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with influenza viruses that normally circulate in swine and not people have occurred. When this happens, these viruses are called “variant viruses.”

Infections with H3N2v have mostly been associated with prolonged exposure to pigs at agricultural fairs. Limited human-to-human spread of this virus has been detected in the past as well (Iowa, West Virginia) but no sustained or community spread of H3N2v has been identified at this time.