Today, a new type of swine flu that has never been seen in this country affected someone, sending shockwaves across Britain.
The unidentified British person, believed to be from north Yorkshire, may have contracted the virus covertly, as officials are unsure of how they came to be aware of it.
Leaders of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are working quickly to control the virus, tracking down every contact of the person who fought a "mild" illness before recovering completely at home.
Only after being tested on a visit to the doctor for flu-like symptoms were they discovered.
People in Britain suffering from "respiratory symptoms," such as a sore throat, cough, and runny nose, are now advised to stay away from other people. For Covid, the same advice is given.
The 2009 swine flu pandemic produced a rapid global spread and shared symptoms with the common and Covid viruses.
It is not easily transmitted among people.
The majority of instances happen to persons who come into contact with diseased pigs, such as farmers and guests at rural fairs. Swine flu cases peak in the fall and winter.
However, virologists worry that swine flu may eventually acquire mutations that enable it to spread quickly through populations.
The H1N2 strain that the infected British person carries is distinct from the variant that caused the swine flu outbreak more than ten years ago.
Scientifically referred to as H1N1(pdm09), that variation had genetic material from viruses that were circulating in people, birds, and pigs.
Most cases of the sickness resolve in a few weeks, and deaths are uncommon. In addition to the typical flu symptoms, some people may also have vomiting and diarrhea.
Professor Ian Jones, a virologist from the University of Reading, cautioned that "not every new agent is a threat."
He said: "It’s very unlikely the single case of H1N2 swine flu reported today represents anything more than has been seen in the past.
"Although a single case may not be representative, the fact the individual concerned had a mild infection that resolved without hospitalization is also in keeping with previous experience."
Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist from the University of Reading, also explained: "There’s only a risk of a large outbreak if this virus can transmit from person to person, and it seems that we don’t yet know that.
"It will be important to know whether the person infected comes into regular contact with pigs as that will easily explain where it came from.
"However, if they don’t, and any chain of transmission involves a lot of people, then that will be more of a worry because it will indicate that the virus can spread between people."
Officials report an unidentified individual has recovered, but the source of the infection remains under investigation. Health chiefs are closely monitoring and advising avoiding contact with others.
Meera Chand, incident director at UKHSA, said: "It is thanks to routine flu surveillance and genome sequencing that we have been able to detect this virus.
"This is the first time we have detected this virus in humans in the UK, though it is very similar to viruses that have been detected in pigs."
She added: "We are working rapidly to trace close contacts and reduce any potential spread.
"In accordance with established protocols, investigations are underway to learn how the individual acquired the infection and to assess whether there are any further associated cases."
Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss urges pig keepers to report any swine flu suspicions to vets immediately, emphasizing the importance of animal health, welfare, and biosecurity. She supports the UKHSA investigation and urges pig keepers to report any suspicions.
The UKHSA has reported the latest H1N2 case to the WHO, despite 50 global cases since 2005.
The unidentified individual, under 18, had no underlying health conditions and was not hospitalized. No evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission was found.
In 2009, a mutated H1N1 swine flu outbreak killed tens of thousands globally but has barely spread in Britain since 2019. Since then, sporadic fatalities have occurred worldwide, with 457 deaths in the UK.
The UK government ordered 132 million vaccine doses and launched a National Flu Pandemic Service to distribute Tamiflu.
However, a 2014 analysis found that millions of pounds may have been wasted on the drug, claiming it was no more effective than paracetamol.
H1N2 is a swine flu strain, affecting three main types: H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2. It can be transmitted from ill pigs to humans in rare cases, usually after exposure to sick pigs. A Michigan fairgoer tested positive in August.
