The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Ingham County Health Department identified the human case of influenza A H3N2, known as H3N2v, in an Ingham County resident. Influenza A H3N2 is commonly known as swine flu.
This variant is different from the highly pathogenic avian influenza A, also known as H5N1, that has recently impacted poultry and dairy farms.
According to the MDHHS, the Ingham County resident tested positive for the variant in July. That positive was recently confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Chief Medical Executive with MDHHS Dr. Natahsa Bagdasarian says that even though this is most likely an isolated case, Michigan residents should monitor for flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, and body aches. If someone is experiencing these symptoms, they are urged to get tested for COVID-19 and influenza.
Currently, emergency room visits for influenza are low and the MDHHS anticipates the risk of influenza A H3N2v to the general public to remain low.
More information can be found online at: https://www.cdc.gov/swine-flu/about/index.html
