Manitoba Public Health is reporting two separate cases of variant influenza in southern Manitoba.

Both variants (H1N1 and H1N2) circulate in pigs and although influenza viruses in pigs do not normally cross over to infect humans, in the rare times that they do cross over and are known as variant viruses.

Only 29 cases of H1N2 have been reported globally since 2005 and this is only the second case of H1N1 ever reported in Canada.

Variant flu viruses have not shown the ability to spread easily and sustainably from person to person.

Both identified cases seem to be isolated and there does not appear to an increased risk to Manitobans or the food supply chain according to officials.

“Based on available evidence, the current assessment is that there is no increased risk to people, with no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission at this time,” the province said in a statement.

In both cases there was there was direct or indirect exposure to pigs.

© News4.ca 2021