An Ingham County resident tested positive for the H3N2 swine flu virus, prompting health officials to investigate the source of the infection. While the search for the exposure source is ongoing, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state's chief medical executive, urged Michigan residents experiencing flu-like symptoms to take tests for both influenza and COVID-19. "While we believe this is an isolated case, Michigan residents should monitor for flu-like symptoms: fever, respiratory symptoms like cough and runny nose and body aches," she said, as per the Detroit Free Press.

Detecting the virus in late July, the specimen was confirmed positive for the H3N2v virus by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after initially testing positive at the Michigan Bureau of Laboratories. Sometimes this virus is known to jump from pigs to humans, as acknowledged by the CDC. Dr. Aubree Gordon, a University of Michigan epidemiologist, told the Free Press for a previous story that pigs could serve as a potential "mixing vessel" for flu, heightening concerns over the transmission amongst humans. Besides, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is ready to investigate potential links to ill animals, as suggested by Director Tim Boring, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

According to both reports, the risk to the general public remains low, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services emphasizes the need for preventive measures at public events like farms and fairs. They advise against consuming food or beverages in livestock areas, discourage bringing items like pacifiers and toys into pig areas, and recommend frequent hand washing or the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers to reduce the risk of transmission.