First human case of new illness found in UK --The virus is similar to a pathogen that until now has been found only in British pigs | 27 Nov 2023 | Public health authorities have detected the first human case of a new strain of swine flu circulating in the UK. While the patient recovered after suffering only mild symptoms, a swine flu pandemic in 2009 killed almost 20,000 people worldwide. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced the discovery on Monday, stating in a press release that the illness, a variant of the H1N2 virus, was discovered during routine testing. The virus is distinct from the H1N2 variant that sporadically affects humans around the world, and is similar to a strain normally found in British pigs. The patient experienced a mild illness and fully recovered, the UKHSA said.