Variant influenza viruses are swine-origin influenza A viruses that cause illness in humans. Surveillance for variant influenza A viruses, including characterization of exposure settings, is important because of the potential emergence of novel influenza viruses with pandemic potential. In Minnesota, we have documented variant influenza A virus infections associated with swine exposure at live animal markets.
Keywords: H1N1 subtype; Influenza; human influenza A virus.
Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.