Swine flu: No further cases detected in people in UK

No further cases of a new strain of human swine flu have been found, after health officials followed up contacts of one confirmed case.

The UK Health Security Agency said enhanced surveillance would continue over the coming weeks, as a precaution.

One person in North Yorkshire was found to have a form of flu similar to the virus detected in pigs, on 23 November.

The 75-year-old, who was otherwise well, had fully recovered after a mild illness, officials said.

The new influenza strain A(H1N2)v detected had not been seen before in the UK.

It was identified by UKHSA scientists using genome sequencing, as part of routine testing for flu carried out by GPs.

The infected person did not work with pigs and had had no direct contact with any animal.

UKHSA incident director Dr Meera Chand said: "Since the virus was confirmed, we have been working rapidly to learn more about it and how it might have been acquired.

"Investigations to date have not identified any further human cases - and sporadic cases of influenza from swine viruses are known to occur.

"The identification of this case highlights the importance of our flu surveillance and genomic sequencing in helping us to identify and learn more about new viruses."