WHO issues warning as swine flu detected in Europe – symptoms of disease

On August 20, 2023, a patient in the Netherlands presented with symptoms of swine flu, scientifically referred to as H1N1.

The WHO noted how the patient developed “fatigue and general malaise”, as well as an acute respiratory infection the following day.

In addition, the patient presented with:

Chills
Sneezing
Coughing
Headache
Generalised weakness
Fever.

The WHO stated: “Further human cases following direct or indirect contact with infected swine can be expected.”

In regards to the first infected patient in the Netherlands of this year, the case was only picked up “as part of a routine surveillance of respiratory illnesses”.

The WHO clarified: “Based on the available information, there is no clear indication of the source of infection, and no direct contact with pigs was reported.”

While the International Health Regulations (IHR,2005) state that swine flu “has the potential for high public health impact”, the WHO is currently not too concerned.

The WHO stated: “As of September 7, there were no symptomatic contacts of this case and no further detections have been reported in routine surveillance

“All five close contacts were followed for 10 days – the maximum incubation period and none developed symptoms.”

The WHO added: “There was no evidence of person-to-person transmission and the case is considered as a sporadic human case of influenza A(H1N1)v.

“The likelihood of community-level spread among humans and/or international disease spread through humans is considered as low.”

Worldwide sporadic human cases of swine flu have been reported previously, including from the Netherlands.

The NHS says swine flu “is now one of the seasonal flu viruses that circulate each winter”.

The health body adds: ” If you’ve had flu in the last few years, there’s a chance it was caused by this virus.”

Symptoms are the same as other types of common flu, which usually pass within two weeks.

The NHS cautions: “But as with all types of flu, some people are at higher risk of serious illness, particularly those with underlying health problems.

“The regular flu vaccine will normally protect people at a higher risk of becoming severely ill.”

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