The World Health Organization has revealed that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be conducting an investigation into a fatal influenza infection in Brazil.
The death has been attributed to an H1N1 variant that is spreading among pigs.
Instances of H1N1 swine flu "spillovers," where the virus transfers from infected pigs to humans, have been sporadically observed worldwide in individuals who have had contact with infected pigs.
However, it remains unclear how the patient in this specific case contracted the virus. The deceased individual, a 42-year-old woman residing in the state of Paraná, Brazil, did not have any direct contact with pigs.
"Based on the information currently available, WHO considers this a sporadic case, and there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission of this event. The likelihood of community-level spread among humans and/or international disease spread through humans is low," the WHO said in a statement published Friday.
Investigators have discovered that two individuals in close contact with the deceased woman worked at a pig farm located nearby. However, both individuals have tested negative for influenza and did not exhibit any respiratory symptoms, CBS News reported.
This raises further questions about the source of the H1N1 variant infection in the case of the woman's tragic death. Further investigations are underway to determine the origin and transmission route of the virus in this particular situation.
"To date, sporadic human infections caused by influenza A(H1N1)v and A(H1N2)v viruses have been reported in Brazil, and there has been no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission," the WHO said.
Health authorities in Brazil have conducted initial analyses on the sample and confirmed that the virus responsible for the woman's death is H1N1.
The strain is closely related to previous samples of H1N1 found in the region, indicating its regional prevalence.
The CDC, one of the World Health Organization's collaborating centers in global flu surveillance, stated that they have not yet received the specimen from Brazilian authorities.
The CDC plays a vital role in studying thousands of sequenced flu viruses each year, comparing their genetic makeup with previous variants that have affected both animals and humans.
As the investigation continues, the CDC's involvement and access to the specimen will contribute to the understanding of the H1N1 variant and its implications for public health.
The Biden administration has been actively preparing to intensify efforts in detecting cases of potentially hazardous new flu variants that could transmit to humans.
With the increasing concern over the widespread outbreak of avian flu among birds across the Americas, it becomes imperative to address the threat it poses.
Furthermore, previous years have witnessed instances of "novel influenza virus infections" occurring in humans who had direct contact with animals at events such as agricultural fairs.
By enhancing surveillance measures, the administration aims to proactively identify and monitor any emerging flu variants, thereby mitigating the potential risks to public health.
"Given the severity of illness of the recent human cases, CDC has also been discussing with partners the feasibility of increasing surveillance efforts among severely ill persons in the ICU during the summer months, when seasonal influenza activity is otherwise low," the CDC's Carrie Reed said at a recent webinar with testing laboratories.
In a recent CDC analysis, a severe case of bird flu infection in a Chilean man earlier this year has revealed concerning indications.
The analysis identified changes in the virus that suggest it may possess the potential to become more transmissible among humans in the future.
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