The 42-year-old woman became a rare victim of the H1N1 variant of swine flu.
Woman from Brazil Dies of Swine Flu
According to CBS News, initial sample analyses conducted by Brazilian health authorities have confirmed that H1N1 is the responsible virus behind this fatality. It is also closely linked to H1N1 samples that were spotted earlier in the area.
The death of the 42-year-old woman has sparked concern because she allegedly did not have direct contact with any pigs. This could signify that the condition may have been transmitted by someone else, MailOnline says.
CNN reports that, according to the World Health Organization, which collaborates closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the woman was in close contact with two individuals who worked on a swine farm close to her home. However, test results revealed that neither of the two had the virus. Both of them also did not experience any respiratory symptoms.
The World Health Organization explained in a news release that, based on currently available data, it considers the case to be sporadic. There is also no proof that interpersonal transmission took place.
WHO further explains that sporadic infections in humans caused by the A(H1N2)v and A(H1N1)v viruses have been reported across the country. However, there is no proof that sustained transmission from human to human took place.
CBS News adds that, this summer, the Biden administration plans to boost efforts to find cases of potentially deadly variants of flu that spread to humans.
The CDC is part of the seven collaborating centers that work together in the global flu surveillance efforts of the WHO. The CDC examines thousands of flu virus sequences every year. They compare the genes with variants that were previously found to infect animals and humans.
Swine Flu
Per MailOnline, rare H1N1 swine flu spillover cases are reported each year in the country. These cases are typically linked to agricultural fairs or workers. However, it is rare for such cases to end in fatalities.
Last year, there were six reported cases. The most recent one was at a Michigan fairground last September. In this specific case, the swine flu patient had contact with a pig that was infected.
Scientists worry that the next pandemic could stem from flu viruses, such as the H1N1. In fact, back in 2009, the world suffered a swine flu pandemic after a subtype of H1N1 led to the deaths of 575,000 individuals all over the world. Since this outbreak took place, there have been some reported sporadic fatalities connected to pig-to-human transmission of swine flu.
Swine flu typically affects individuals who get into direct contact with pigs that are infected. The symptoms of the condition resemble those of typical human influenza. These symptoms could include lethargy, fever, appetite loss, runny nose, cough, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea.
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