H1N2 is a strain of the flu that affects both birds and humans.  It is very similar to the influenza strains H1N1 and H3N2 because of certain proteins that are contained in the virus.

Where the H1N2 virus was exactly originated is unknown.  However, in February 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva identified the H1N2 virus in humans in England, Israel, and Egypt.  The Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) in the United Kingdom also identified this virus in humans at the same time.

The virus had been detected in individual, isolated cases in six different Chinese cities between December 1988 and March 1989.  These nineteen cases of H1N2 were cut off from the general population and did not spread further.

The main difference between H1N2 and the other more common viruses, H1N1 and H3N2 are the combination of proteins.  H1N2 combines the H1 protein from H1N1 and the N2 protein from H3N2.  This combination is not seen very often, but it does not make H1N2 very different from these other viruses that are more commonly contracted by humans.

While the protein combination is different in H1N2 than the other virus strains — that does not necessarily make it more dangerous than the other viruses.  Actually, since H1N2 contains the hemagglutinin protein from H1N1 and the neuraminidase protein from the H3N2, people have been exposed to these proteins in different forms.  Therefore, their bodies have developed the antibodies against these forms of viruses.

If you are affected by the H1N2 virus, you can expect similar symptoms as other viruses like H1N1.  Consequently, more children and younger people are also affected by H1N2 just like they are affected by H1N1 more frequently.

In addition, H1N2 does not affect the elderly as often as it affects younger people.  More specifically, the symptoms can include headache, aching muscles, respiratory, and constitutional symptoms.

Frequent vaccination should be used to help prevent contracting influenza viruses like H1N2, H1N1, and H3N2.  All of these virus types are Type A and can usually be treated with a typical influenza vaccine.

Just like other types of flu, sleep and a large amount of fluids are recommended to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms in most cases.  Other treatments can be offered for certain patients who are considered higher risk like antiviral drugs that are taken within 36 hours of contracting the virus.