Possible person-to-person swine flu case reported in Spain. Should we be concerned?
ABC News • • health
Key Points:
- Spanish health officials have alerted the WHO about a possible human swine flu case involving person-to-person transmission, with the patient having no direct contact with pigs; confirmatory tests are underway in the UK.
- Experts emphasize that while the case is concerning for public health monitoring, the risk to the general public remains low, and widespread alarm is not currently warranted.
- Swine flu is an influenza A virus primarily affecting pigs, with rare human infections mostly linked to close contact with swine; human-to-human transmission is uncommon but closely monitored due to potential adaptation.
- The 2009 H1N1 pandemic, involving swine, bird, and human flu viruses, caused significant illness and fatalities, underscoring the importance of vigilance for new strains
