They discovered the first human case of swine flu

UK Health and Safety Authority (UKHSA) reports first case Swine flu On a man in England. This is the A (H1N2) virus, a strain of the virus that causes flu-like symptoms. Experts are still investigating the source of infection in those affected.

The virus variant circulating in Europe is a form of classic swine fever known as African swine fever

. Unlike the first, this is caused by a virus from the Asfaviridae family. Both are considered serious, with very high mortality rates, as high as 90% in the smallest animals.

According to the European Food Safety Authority, “the disease can It will take several years to eliminateThere is currently no vaccine or treatment, and typical symptoms include fever, miscarriage, bleeding and sudden death. ” Additionally, they note that infection in pigs and wild boars can occur through direct contact with infected animals, or indirectly through ingestion of infected animals, contact with contaminated clothing, vehicles, or even bites from infectious ticks.

Since there is no cure, if an outbreak occurs, health authorities warn that the only solution is to cull the animals. In 2019, more than 200,000 cattle died due to this virus in China alone.

Can humans be infected?

Although swine influenza viruses primarily infect pigs and wild boars, they can occasionally Can be transmitted to humans. According to the World Health Organization, “swine influenza viruses generally do not infect humans, although outbreaks have occasionally been reported among people who have direct contact with pigs.”

Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, muscle aches, chills, sweats, cough, sore throat and nasal congestion. In addition, more serious respiratory complications may occur.

The economic impact of this swine flu

The lack of medical solutions forces farmers to slaughter all infected animals to eradicate the virus, causing huge economic losses that directly impact the meat industry. This was proven in 2009, when the epidemic spread to Germany and many countries suspended imports of German products. Export losses have led to a sharp decline in pork, with meat prices falling in several countries. In France, for example, swine fever has caused pork prices to fall by about 14%, equivalent to a loss of 21 to 23 cents per kilogram, depending on the economic situation.