Netherlands records first case of human influenza A variant this year

The Netherlands notifies the World Health Organization (WHO) of its first case of human infection Influenza A virus variants The H1N1 flu originated in pigs and has been spreading within the country since 2023.

This was an adult from the province of Noord-Brabant with no previous illnesses and no history of occupational exposure to animals. On August 20, 2023, the patient developed fatigue and general discomfort. The next day, he developed an acute respiratory infection. On August 22, he developed chills, sneezing, coughing, headache and general weakness, followed by fever.

On the same day, the man’s sample was sent to the Dutch National Influenza Center at the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), where it tested positive for influenza A virus.

According to the information currently available, there is no clear source of infection, and there are no reports of direct contact with pigs. As of September 7, there were no symptomatic contacts of this case, and no further test reports were found during daily monitoring.

Five contacts identified as potential sources of infection for the infected person were traced for up to 10 days (the maximum incubation period), and none developed symptoms. so, There is no evidence of human-to-human transmission This case is believed to be a sporadic human case of influenza A (H1N1).

“The potential for community transmission between people and international spread of the disease through humans is considered low,” the World Health Organization said.

Not spread from person to person

Human infection with variant viruses usually causes mild clinical disease, although Some cases have been hospitalized Symptoms are more severe and milder, and can be fatal. Sporadic human infections caused by influenza A (H1N1v) and influenza A (H1N2v) viruses have been previously reported in the Netherlands, but there was no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.

This is the first human infection caused by the H1N1 swine influenza virus reported in the Netherlands in 2023. Third human infection in the past five years. Nine human cases of infection with this variant have been recorded in the Netherlands since 1986.