Researchers from Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/Fiocruz) identified a new variant of the influenza virus, which causes the flu, in a patient from Ibiporã city, in Paraná. Analyses indicated the presence of the influenza A (H1N2)v virus, which causes infection in pigs. The case was informed to the Ministry of Health, which notified WHO (World Health Organization), complying with the international sanitary regulation. All records of human infection by new viral subtypes must be notified, once mutations in such microorganisms may lead to a person-to-person spread, with pandemic potential. 

An alert issued by WHO informs that 26 cases of infection by Influenza A (H1N2)v virus were recorded since 2005, and most patients presented mild symptoms.  In Brazil, a record had already been performed in 2016. There are no evidences of transmission regarding these viral variants among people. The virologist Marilda Siqueira, head of the IOC Respiratory Virus and Measles Laboratory, reference for respiratory viruses in Brazil and responsible for the identification of influenza variants in the country, states that the new finding does not represent a cause for concern. "These detections occur, over the years, in several countries. It does not mean that it will become a pandemic. Control measures are the same for infections through respiratory transmission in general, as washing hands and, in case of respiratory symptoms, seek medical attention in order to better analyze the clinical picture", clarifies the researcher.

The patient from Ibiporã, who is already recovered and did not need to be hospitalized, presented flu symptoms in mid-April. Upon seeking medical care, she had a sample of the respiratory tract collected as part of the routine actions of the national influenza surveillance system. Lacen-PR (Central Laboratory of Public Health of Paraná) identified an influenza A virus of unknown subtype and forwarded the sample to the IOC Respiratory Virus and Measles Laboratory, where the characterization of the microorganism was performed. Marilda highlights that the finding performed amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which overburdens the country's health services and network of laboratories, shows the Brazilian response capacity.

"Amid a coronavirus pandemic, which is affecting all levels of health care, we worked within the protocols and we were able to identify a new variant of the influenza virus. This shows the rapid response capability that our country, through a huge effort involving the Ministry of Health, Health Secretariats, Central Laboratory of Public Health of Paraná (Lacens) and institutes as IOC/Fiocruz, Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC) and Adolfo Lutz Institute (IAL), is able to provide in order to control influenza", evaluates Marilda.