Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) infections are continuing to occur in poultry and humans in Egypt. However there is no evidence of a significant change in the pattern of human illness and deaths related to A(H5N1) virus infections in the country. Certainly there are no epidemiological data or analyses consistent with adaptation of these viruses to humans.

New strain of swine influenza identified in two workers on a pig farm in Canada.  Swine influenza (SI) is an acute viral infection of the respiratory tract in pigs. Subclinical infections are also common. The mortality is low and recovery usually occurs within 7-10 days.

On April 21, the United States reported on the existence of 2 human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) infection. On 23 April, through intensified surveillance efforts, a total of 7 confirmed human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) infection, were reported.

Influenza of swine origin detected retrospectively in a human with illness in November 2008. Swine influenza (SI) is an acute viral infection of the respiratory tract in pigs. Subclinical infections are also common. The mortality is low and recovery usually occurs within 7-10 days.

CDC has reported recent infections in children in North America with a swine-origin triple reassortant influenza A(H3N2) virus that includes a genetic component from the pandemic 2009 virus, and with probable human-to-human transmission with these viruses.

ECDC published an update of its previous rapid risk assessment on Swine-origin triple reassortant influenza A(H3N2) viruses in North America. This rapid risk assessment updates that of 29 November 2011, with a focus on the epidemiological information and a report on progress made to address the diagnostic needs in the European Union that will enable detection of these new viruses.

Following the emergence of swine influenza A(H3N2) variant (v) viruses with sporadic human infections in North America, the Community Network of Reference Laboratories (CNRL) and the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency completed an exercise to assess the CNRL’s capability to detect novel reassortant and circulating triple reassortant swine viruses (TRA) in humans.

Following the emergence of swine influenza A(H3N2) variant (v) viruses with sporadic human infections in North America, ECDC and the Community Network of Reference Laboratories (CNRL) disseminated a questionnaire to explore the RT-PCR capability of influenza reference laboratories in EU/EEA countries to detect A(H3N2)v viruses in their day-to-day diagnostics and to subtype them as swine-origin variant viruses.

Following recent increased reporting of human infections in the US with an influenza A(H3N2) variant virus of swine origin (A(H3N2)v), ECDC has updated its risk assessment. It concludes that the swine-origin influenza A(H3N2)v viruses do not currently pose a serious risk to human health in general and Europe in particular.

Swine are an important host in influenza virus ecology since they are susceptible to infections with both avian and human influenza A viruses.