A Michigan resident has tested positive for the swine flu in what officials believe is an ‘isolated’ case.
State health officials confirmed Friday that an unnamed individual tested positive for swine flu, also called influenza A H3N2v, in late July.
The infection typically spreads through contact with pigs, though it’s unclear how the individual was exposed.
The news comes after a Pennsylvania resident was diagnosed with influenza A in March after direct contact with farm animals.
People can catch swine flu from contact with infected pigs directly and the strains that infect humans are often blends of avian, swine and human flu viruses
Influenza A is endemic among pigs but rarely infects humans. However, in 2009, a strain of influenza A caused a swine flu epidemic, infecting more than 59million Americans and killing thousands.
However, the disease is extremely rare in the US, infecting just three people last year.
Two of those patients had attended different agricultural fairs in Michigan and had direct exposure to pigs.
Both of them experienced mild illness and fully recovered with no evidence they transmitted the infections to others.
A third was a child from Montana who had also visited a fair.
Dr Natasha Bagdasarian, chieg medical executive of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), said: ‘While we believe this is an isolated case, Michigan residents should monitor for flu-like symptoms: fever, respiratory symptoms like cough and runny nose and body aches.’
‘If you have these symptoms, we recommend taking a test for influenza as well as COVID-19. Home COVID-19 tests are widely available, and both flu and COVID-19 tests are available at many pharmacies, urgent cares and clinics.’
‘Regardless of test results, please stay at home until you have recovered.’
The individual’s condition is currently unknown. Cases are normally mild and clear up on their own in a few weeks with little risk of death.
There are several strains of swine flu, including H1N2 and the 2009 epidemic-causing H1N1.
Infections rarely spread from animal to person, but the 2009 outbreak was the product of the virus mutating to become capable of infecting humans and causing illness.
The H1N1 strain had combined bird, swine and human influenza A viruses.
The outbreak disproportionately affected children and teens who were more susceptible to illness so severe it required hospitalization.
A report from the World Health Organization found in that year, the number of infections in the US reached 59million with 265,000 hospitalized and 12,000 dead.
People can catch swine flu from direct contact with infected pigs and the strains that infect them are often blends of avian, swine and human flu viruses.
To avoid infections, the CDC recommends avoiding contact with pigs, as well as avoiding drinking and eating around the animals. If you own pigs, it is also important to monitor them for signs of illness, the health organization added.
People with direct contact with the animals, such as farmers and slaughterhouse workers, are most at risk of contracting the zoonotic disease.
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