A new genetic strain of flu similar to one that affects pigs has infected a person in North Yorkshire, UK health officials confirmed earlier this week. In a statement, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has shared the full timeline of how events unfolded. The timeline begins on Thursday 9 November, with a visit to a GP. The person seeking help seemingly caught the virus days before the visit.
The patient sought medical assistance with “typical” flu symptoms, such as fatigue, cough and sore throat. GP practices do not necessarily conduct routine swab tests as they are to support the UKHSA in monitoring population health. The UKHSA authorities processed the sample and discovered it was a new virus on Thursday 23 November, two weeks after the visit.
The virus is almost identical to one presently circulating in UK pigs, although it comes under the name of influenza A(H1N2)v, not swine flu. It is unknown how the infected individual caught the virus since they do not live or work with pigs. Although the virus could theoretically spread through humans, its chances of doing so currently remain low. Further investigation is taking place to learn more about the infection, and authorities have identified all of the patient’s close contacts.
Notably, this is the only confirmed case so far. In 2009, a different kind of swine flu caused a pandemic in humans, but it no longer circulates widely. Although flu vaccines do not provide much protection against the new virus, new vaccines could be made if necessary
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