INFLUENZA (04): USA (PENNSYLVANIA) H1N2V, SWINE ORIGIN
A ProMED-mail post
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Fri 29 Mar 2024
Source: Live Science [edited]
https://www.livescience.com/health/viruses-infections-disease/novel-swine-flu-virus-sickens-pennsylvania-child-in-1st-case-of-the-year
A child in Pennsylvania caught a case of swine flu after being in
contact with pigs, health officials reported Friday (29 Mar 2024).
The infection marks the first human case of swine flu flagged in the
US so far this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) reported in its Weekly US Influenza Surveillance Report.
The infection, initially detected by the Pennsylvania Department of
Health, was caused by a “novel” influenza A virus, one of the major
types of flu virus. The detected virus belongs to a known subtype of
influenza A that regularly infects pigs, called H1N2, but it’s a newly
identified strain. Sporadically, swine flu viruses like H1N2 can jump
into humans, and when they do, they’re known as “variant” influenza
viruses.
Human infections with variant flu viruses most often happen in people
with recent exposure to infected pigs. For instance, it’s thought that
sick pigs may cough or sneeze droplets containing virus into the air,
where they can then be inhaled by people or deposited on surfaces that
people then touch. In this recent case, local health officials found
that the patient had “swine contact prior to their illness onset.” In
an emailed statement, the CDC added that the infected person lives
near a pig farm in Pennsylvania.
The infected child started receiving medical care for the infection on
9 Mar 2024, was ultimately hospitalized, and has since recovered.
There is no evidence that the infection spread from the infected
person to additional people, the CDC reported, although “the
investigation is ongoing.”
Health officials did report that 2 of the patient’s close contacts
developed mild illness and had been in contact with pigs before the
patient fell ill. However, the report doesn’t specify if these 2
individuals are also suspected of experiencing swine flu.
“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,” the CDC noted in its report. (The “swine flu”
pandemic in 2009 involved a virus containing a mix of genes from
swine, avian, and human influenza viruses, which enabled it to spread
easily between people.)
Human swine flu cases most often cause symptoms similar to the regular
seasonal flu. These include fever, lethargy, poor appetite, and
coughing. Some people develop a runny nose, sore throat, eye
irritation, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
That said, swine flu can sometimes progress and cause serious illness
that requires hospitalization and can potentially be fatal, similar to
seasonal flu. Antiviral drugs used to treat seasonal flu can also
treat swine flu.
Last year [2023], the CDC reported 2 human swine flu infections that
were tied to agricultural fairs in Michigan, and in 2022, it reported
4: 3 connected to an agricultural fair and one of unknown origin.
Precautions people can take to avoid swine flu include not eating or
drinking near pigs; avoiding contact with pigs that appear sick; and
washing their hands often with soap and water before and after contact
with pigs.