Pigs, humans had same
virus
By Matt Fritz
Published: Wednesday, July 25, 2012 5:03 PM CDT
La PORTE — Sick humans and pigs at the La Porte County Fair had one thing in common — the H3N2 virus.
Yesterday the Indiana Board of Animal Health and the Indiana State Department of Health determined that the same virus was responsible for both animal and human sickness at the annual event, which drew more than 20,000 people to the La Porte fairgrounds earlier this month.
According to a health department press release, four people associated with the fair were diagnosed with the illness after having direct contact with the animals. They have all since recovered.
Janelle Thompson, public information officer for the Indiana Board of Animal Health, said samples were collected from sick people and animals on July 16 after several respiratory illness complaints in both pigs and the children were reported.
Thompson classified the type A influenza as a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans or vice versa.
The health department release said human infections are more likely to occur when people are in close proximity to live infected swine, such as in barns and livestock exhibits at fairs. Influenza viruses are not transmitted by eating pork and pork products.
Thompson agreed.
"All the people who were diagnosed in this situation had direct contact with the swine," she said. "They were all in the barn working with the animals. At this time we have not heard of any fairgoers becoming ill. So pork is still completely safe to eat."
One parent associated with the swine program (who asked to go unnamed for fear of retaliation) said he had two kids sent to the emergency room, one with a temperature of 102 degrees and the other with a temperature of 104 degrees.
He explained that participants started noticing the problem on July 12.
He said he knew of 41 sick pigs. He owned one of them.
According to the health department, the reported symptoms included coughing, fevers and sore throats. It's continuing to collect information on the extent of the illnesses.
The department release said 17 human cases of this virus have been identified nationwide. Six of these cases have been identified in Indiana.
It recommended individuals to wash hands with soap and water before and after petting or touching any animal, and to never eat, drink, or put anything in their mouths in animal areas. And older adults, pregnant women, young children and people with weakened immune systems should be extra careful around animals.
http://heraldargus.com/articles/2012...f288598925.txt
By Matt Fritz
Published: Wednesday, July 25, 2012 5:03 PM CDT
La PORTE — Sick humans and pigs at the La Porte County Fair had one thing in common — the H3N2 virus.
Yesterday the Indiana Board of Animal Health and the Indiana State Department of Health determined that the same virus was responsible for both animal and human sickness at the annual event, which drew more than 20,000 people to the La Porte fairgrounds earlier this month.
According to a health department press release, four people associated with the fair were diagnosed with the illness after having direct contact with the animals. They have all since recovered.
Janelle Thompson, public information officer for the Indiana Board of Animal Health, said samples were collected from sick people and animals on July 16 after several respiratory illness complaints in both pigs and the children were reported.
Thompson classified the type A influenza as a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans or vice versa.
The health department release said human infections are more likely to occur when people are in close proximity to live infected swine, such as in barns and livestock exhibits at fairs. Influenza viruses are not transmitted by eating pork and pork products.
Thompson agreed.
"All the people who were diagnosed in this situation had direct contact with the swine," she said. "They were all in the barn working with the animals. At this time we have not heard of any fairgoers becoming ill. So pork is still completely safe to eat."
One parent associated with the swine program (who asked to go unnamed for fear of retaliation) said he had two kids sent to the emergency room, one with a temperature of 102 degrees and the other with a temperature of 104 degrees.
He explained that participants started noticing the problem on July 12.
He said he knew of 41 sick pigs. He owned one of them.
According to the health department, the reported symptoms included coughing, fevers and sore throats. It's continuing to collect information on the extent of the illnesses.
The department release said 17 human cases of this virus have been identified nationwide. Six of these cases have been identified in Indiana.
It recommended individuals to wash hands with soap and water before and after petting or touching any animal, and to never eat, drink, or put anything in their mouths in animal areas. And older adults, pregnant women, young children and people with weakened immune systems should be extra careful around animals.
http://heraldargus.com/articles/2012...f288598925.txt
