Swine flu H1N2: What we know so far as first human case detected in UK
A person in Britain has contracted a strain of flu that has never before been seen in the UK.
Only 50 people in the world have previously been infected with the H1N2 strain, which is commonly found in pigs.
Genetic analysis of the human UK case revealed it is closely related to the strain currently circulating in the British pig population.
However, there remain a lot of unknowns, and the authorities continue to investigate the source of the infection, whether there has been any further spread, and what level of risk it poses to the public.
Here is everything we know so far:
What are the symptoms of influenza A(H1N2)v?
The individual involved reported a mild illness and has since recovered fully. In previous H1N2 cases, the symptoms have been mild.
What should I do if I have similar symptoms?
The UKHSA’s advice for all respiratory symptoms remains the same – avoid contact with other people while they persist, particularly if they are old or have existing medical conditions.
How is it spread?
It is currently not known how this one individual in Britain contracted the H1N2 strain of swine flu.
Previously, people have caught the virus after being in close contact with pigs. There have been some cases of human-to-human transmission, but the virus has in the past been ill-suited to sustained spread.
Can you die from this strain?
The one individual to catch the virus in the UK went to the GP with mild respiratory symptoms and recovered fully.
There is no reason to believe currently that the virus is more dangerous than any other seasonal influenza infection.
Is it the same as the 2009 swine flu?
No, the 2009 pandemic which killed more than 400 people was the H1N1 strain. This strain now circulates in humans seasonally.
The H1N2 virus is genetically different, and belong to a group very similar to the variant currently circulating in British pigs.
How was it detected?
The person infected in Britain went to their GP in North Yorkshire with respiratory symptoms and a swab test was done. Routine analysis by UKHSA identified the unusual strain.
What happens now?
The source of the infection is under investigation, and any close contacts of the infected person are being traced.
“The next stage is the most important, to determine whether the patient did acquire the infection from pigs, and whether it has spread to other people,” said Prof Dan Horton, professor of veterinary virology at the University of Surrey.
“There is no evidence of human to human spread currently.”
Prof Ian Jones, professor of virology at University of Reading, said “it’s very unlikely” that this case is anything more than previous sporadic infections. “Not every new agent is a threat,” he said.
