The U.K. Health Security Agency is working to determine any risks the pathogen might pose to human health, it said in a statement Monday. The person experienced only a mild illness and has fully recovered, according to the agency.
It’s not unusual for flu viruses to jump to other species, but experts track those events closely for fear that the pathogen will adapt to the new host and become transmissible among humans. A swine flu virus sparked a pandemic in 2009 that affected millions of people globally.
The U.K. case was detected as part of routine surveillance and the patient’s contacts are now being followed by health authorities.
More From TIME
“This is the first time we have detected this virus in humans in the U.K., though it is very similar to viruses that have been detected in pigs,” said Meera Chand, Incident Director at the Health Security Agency. “We are working rapidly to trace close contacts and reduce any potential spread.”
The variant was first found in a minor in the U.S. state of Michigan earlier this year.