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H1N1

American  
Pathology.
  1. a subtype of the type A influenza virus, with strains that give rise to seasonal epidemics, or sometimes pandemics, including a strain with swine, avian, and human genes responsible for swine flu.


Etymology

Origin of H1N1

First recorded in 1970–75; abbreviation of h(aemagglutinin type)1 and n(euraminidase type) 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Public health scientists at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health used advanced computer simulations to trace how the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic spread across the United States.

From Science Daily • Feb. 7, 2026

In the spring of 2009, a shift happened with an H1N1 strain, also known as swine flu.

From Salon • Jan. 8, 2026

There are also signs a different strain of flu - H1N1 - is picking up in Europe and may lead to an increase in cases here too.

From BBC • Dec. 19, 2025

Of about 3,500 influenza type A viruses genetically analyzed nationally over a recent week among public health labs, 54% were H1N1 and 46% were H3N2.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2025

The 1918 influenza pandemic is thought to have been caused by a reassorted combination of an H1N1 bird flu with a more common flu.

From Slate • Dec. 4, 2024