A variant of swine flu has been confirmed in humans for the first time in the UK.
The H1N2 virus variant has infected a person for the first time, as reported by Vetenskapsradion. The virus usually affects pigs, and it is very rare for it to also infect humans. Only about 50 cases have been confirmed since 2005, and only a few of these have been in Europe.
According to Björn Olsen, a professor of infectious diseases at Uppsala University, there is currently no reason to be concerned about this H1N2 virus.
– Monitoring of this type of virus is important, but so far there has been no human-to-human spread.
The infected person has only mild respiratory symptoms, and the infection was detected during a routine check-up.
In 2009, another variant of swine flu, H1N1, circulated, resulting in a pandemic and leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.
