By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports one human infection with an influenza A(H1N2) variant (A(H1N2)v) virus was reported by Ohio.

Image/Mutinka

The patient is <18 years of age, was not hospitalized, and has completely recovered from their illness. Investigation into the source of the infection revealed that the patient lives on a farm with swine present. No human-to-human transmission of A(H1N2)v virus has been identified associated with this patient.

This is the first influenza A(H1N2)v virus identified in the United States that occurred in 2021.

Pigs are commonly infected with swine influenza (“variant flu”) viruses that are usually different from human influenza viruses. While rare, influenza can spread from pigs to people and from people to pigs.

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.”

In general, the severity of illnesses associated with variant influenza have been similar to seasonal influenza.

Influenza symptoms come on quickly in the form of fever, dry cough, sore throat, headache, extreme tiredness, stuffed-up nose, and body aches. Young children and the elderly may not develop fever. These symptoms can be severe and put you in bed for several days.

To date there is no sustained human-to-human transmission of novel swine-origin flu. However, influenza viruses have the capacity to change and it’s possible that this virus may become widespread. They are not transmissible by eating properly handled and prepared pork (pig meat) or other products derived from pigs.