Ingham County resident has H3N2 swine flu virus

A person from Ingham County has a confirmed case of swine flu , the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said Friday.

“While we believe this is an isolated case, Michigan residents should monitor for flu-like symptoms: fever, respiratory symptoms like cough and runny nose and body aches,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state's chief medical executive, in a statement.

“If you have these symptoms, we recommend taking a test for influenza as well as COVID-19. Home COVID-19 tests are widely available, and both flu and COVID-19 tests are available at many pharmacies, urgent cares and clinics. Regardless of test results, please stay at home until you have recovered.”

Health officials said Friday that the source of this person's exposure to the H3N2v virus remained under investigation.

The person tested positive for the H3N2 flu virus in late July. The Michigan Bureau of Laboratories also got a positive result for H3N2v virus when it tested a specimen from the Ingham County resident. A specimen was then sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which confirmed the person had been sickened by the influenza A H3N2 virus.

The influenza A H3N2v virus typically is associated with pigs, though it also has been known to sporadically jump to people, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In 2023, the first two U.S. cases of swine flu in humans were linked to infected pigs at county fairs in Michigan, according to the CDC.

Scientists often grow concerned when viruses jump from animals to people — and sometimes back to animals again — because it can lead to mutations in the virus that could give it the ability to spread more easily or cause more severe symptoms, potentially triggering another pandemic.

Influenza A H3N2v is not the same as the highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus currently infecting dairy cattle and domestic poultry, along with some farmworkers in the U.S.

The H5N1 bird flu virus adapted to infect mammals not just in the U.S., but around the world, killing seals and foxes, raccoons and skunks. It leaped to cows in late 2023, with high levels of viral particles identified in the milk and udders of sick livestock.

Since then, 14 U.S. farmworkers have been infected with bird flu after working closely with infected cows and poultry. Two of them were in Michigan .

Aubree Gordon, a professor or epidemiology and global public health at the University of Michigan, told the Free Press for a previous article that one of her biggest concerns is that the H5N1 virus will soon begin to infect pigs.

"Pigs can be a bit of a mixing vessel for flu," said Gordon, who also is director of the Michigan Center for Infectious Disease Threats and Pandemic Preparedness. "They have some of the same receptors that humans have and a virus that transmits well amongst pigs may transmit well amongst humans."

More: CDC reveals new data on bird flu in Michigan farmworkers as US case count ticks up

More: Michigan farmworker is second US case of H5N1bird flu likely transmitted from cow to human

She suggested the USDA should carefully monitor swine for avian influenza infections and public health authorities ought to consider PCR testing of people who have flu-like symptoms.

Anyone who becomes ill with respiratory symptoms should talk with their medical provider about any recent exposure to birds or livestock, such as cattle or pigs, so that influenza testing can be considered, the state health department said.

While most individuals recover from the flu, including illnesses from variant viruses like H3N2v, these infections can sometimes cause severe disease. Antiviral drugs can be used to treat H3N2v infections in both children and adults, the state health department said, adding that the risk to the general public remains low.

Although this infection has not been linked to known exposure to swine or other animals, MDHHS suggested taking the following precautions to avoid potential exposure at farms, fairs and exhibits:

• Refrain from eating or drinking in livestock barns or show rings.
• Do not take toys, pacifiers, cups, baby bottles, strollers or similar items into pig areas.
• Anyone who is at high risk of serious flu complications and planning to attend a fair should avoid pigs and swine barns.
• Wash hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Subscribe to the Free Press .

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ingham County resident has H3N2 swine flu virus