A child in Pennsylvania has been reported to have contracted swine flu after being in contact with pigs, marking the first human case of swine flu in the U.S. in 2024, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in its Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report.

The infection was caused by a ‘novel’ influenza A virus, a newly identified strain of the H1N2 subtype that regularly infects pigs. While there is no evidence of the infection spreading between people, health officials found that the infected person lives near a pig farm in Pennsylvania.

The infected child received medical care for the infection on March 9, was hospitalized, and has since recovered. Although two of the patient’s close contacts developed mild illness and had been in contact with pigs, there is no evidence of the infection spreading further.

Human infections with variant flu viruses most often occur in people with recent exposure to infected pigs. It is believed that sick pigs may release virus-containing droplets into the air, which can then be inhaled by people or deposited on surfaces that people touch.

This recent case serves as a reminder of the potential for swine flu viruses to jump into humans sporadically. The investigation into this case is ongoing, and health officials are closely monitoring the situation to prevent any potential spread of the infection.

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