Swine Flu (H3N2) Virus
H3N2 is a strain of influenza, also called the swine flu, that infected 321 people in the United States in 2011 and 2012. In 2012, a variant of H3N2, called H3N2v, was discovered and resulted in 309 cases reported, with 16 hospitalizations. In 2013, 19 cases of H3N2v -- a variant of the H3N2 strain -- were reported in the United States across five states. In 2014, there were two reported cases, both of which occurred in Ohio. Since 2012, 18 people have been hospitalized with the H3N2 variant strain of flu, and there was one death that occurred among these patients -- an older patient who had multiple underlying health problems.
When this strain of virus occurs in pigs, it’s called swine flu. The H3N2v strain does not usually infect people or spread from person to person and is very different from the human seasonal H3N2 viruses, although symptoms are similar to seasonal flu symptoms: fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, muscle aches and fatigue. Most of these cases occurred after direct or close contact with pigs, and many of the exposures took place at county agricultural fairs.
H1N1 (Originally Called Swine Flu)
The H1N1 flu virus gained notoriety in 2009 when it launched a worldwide pandemic. This strain is now a seasonal flu virus that circulates in humans and pigs. While this strain has continued to circulate regularly since 2009, 2014 saw this strain become predominant in the United States.
The best way to protect yourself from H1N1 is to get a seasonal flu vaccine and take steps (including regular hand washing and healthy eating) to stay healthy during flu season.