The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an urgent alert after a man contracted a serious type of swine flu.
Officials from WHO confirmed the case on January 29, calling it an “outbreak” and saying it could be a big risk to public health.
This is the third time someone has been infected with swine-origin influenza A, known as swine flu, since 2008.
A WHO spokesperson said: “WHO continues to stress the importance of global surveillance to detect virological, epidemiological and clinical changes associated with circulating influenza viruses that may affect human (or animal) health and timely virus sharing for risk assessment.
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“Most human cases with influenza A(H1N1)v virus infection result from exposure to swine influenza viruses through direct or indirect contact with infected swine or contaminated environments.
“However, some cases have been reported without an apparent source of exposure to swine in the weeks prior to illness onset.
“Because these viruses continue to be detected in swine populations worldwide, further human cases following direct or indirect contact with infected swine can be expected.
“Swine variant cases have been reported in recent years from many countries, including in Europe.”
A man in Lleida, Spain, who contracted the virus, began to show symptoms such as fever, malaise and a cough on November 25, 2023.
He sought medical help four days later and visited the doctors two more times before being diagnosed with bronchitis.
Later tests at the National Surveillance Network Lab confirmed he had swine flu, according to the Daily Star.
His sample was sent to London for further testing after it was isolated. Despite the potential severity of the virus in humans, the man fully recovered nearly two months later.
The WHO has now advised travellers visiting countries with “known outbreaks of animal influenza” to avoid farms, live animal markets, areas where animals could be slaughtered, or any surfaces possibly contaminated with animal poo.