By Mark Johnson of the Journal Sentinel
Aug. 30, 2012
State health officials announced Thursday that 14 people in Wisconsin are confirmed to have the variant of the H3N2 influenza virus, though all have either recovered or are currently recovering from the virus. One child was hospitalized briefly, according to the Department of Health Services.
All of the patients had contact with pigs or came close to pigs at the Wisconsin State Fair or county fairs in Kenosha, Dodge and Manitowoc counties. As a result, state officials asked that fair visitors show caution and that those with weakened immune systems avoid entering swine barns.
"While this strain of influenza appears to cause an illness similar to seasonal strains, keep in mind that any influenza can cause very severe illness in certain people," State Health Officer Henry Anderson said in a news release.
The majority of the flu patients have been children. The average age: 10 years...
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