The Government has issued a warning as health officials investigate the first confirmed case of a new strain of swine flu in the UK.
A(H1N2)v was detected in a routine flu screening test at a GP surgery in North Yorkshire.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the person had respiratory symptoms, a mild illness and had fully recovered from the virus.
Respiratory symptoms listed on the GovUK website include:
- Continuous cough
- High temperature, fever or chills
- Loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell
- Shortness of breath
- Unexplained tiredness, lack of energy
- Muscle aches or pains that are not due to exercise
- Not wanting to eat or not feeling hungry
- Headache that is unusual or longer lasting than usual
- Sore throat, stuffy or runny nose
- Diarrhoea, feeling sick or being sick
These symptoms could also be a sign of Covid 19, as well as the common flu and other respiratory illnesses.
According to the UKHSA, the source of their infection is not yet known and remains “under investigation”.
Now the health body is urging anyone with respiratory issues, such as a cough or shortness of breath, to avoid contact with others.
Influenza A(H1N2)v is “similar” to flu viruses currently circulating in pigs in the UK, however, is different to the strain responsible for previous outbreaks of swine flu.
A UKHSA spokesman said: “As is usual early in emerging infection events, UKHSA is working closely with partners to determine the characteristics of the pathogen and assess the risk to human health.”
This case was detected using a PCR test as part of routine national flu surveillance. The person was tested by their GP after experiencing respiratory symptoms.
The UKHSA advised: “People with any respiratory symptoms should continue to follow the existing guidance; avoid contact with other people while symptoms persist, particularly if the people they are coming into contact with are elderly or have existing medical conditions.”