A state report found two confirmed cases and one probable case of swine-related influenza in youth exhibitors at the Somerset County Fair.
That has fair leaders scratching their heads.
“We did not have any sick hogs at the fair at all,” fair President Jeffrey Romesberg said, noting that fair leaders took all the recommended precautions for swine flu control.
It is the same virus that caused illness in association with the Huntingdon County Fair earlier in August, the state Health Department said.
Nationwide, 288 cases have been confirmed. The illnesses reported in Pennsylvania are mostly in children and are typical for the flu.
Romesberg said he spend much of the weekend reviewing precautionary measures and going over prevention issues with medical experts from the state Health and Agriculture departments.
“From what I understand from the doctors at the Health Department, you’re not going to know any animal that is going to transmit the flu,” Romesberg said.
All of the animals exhibited Aug. 18-25 at the Somerset County Fair were required to have proof of a veterinarian’s exam from within 30 days, Romesberg said.
The animals were checked when they arrived at the fairgrounds, and a veterinarian was at the Meyersdale complex every day. No animals were identified with symptoms of swine flu, Romesberg said.
“We did everything we possibly could with the prevention,” Romesberg said, adding he doesn’t know the names of children affected.
Similar precautions have been instituted at Cambria County Fair, which continues through Saturday in Ebensburg.
Cambria organizers also required livestock owners to provide proof that their swine had been examined by a veterinarian within 30 days.
A veterinarian was on site Saturday when livestock were brought to the exhibits, fair President Philip Rice said, noting they were instructed to look for any swine flu symptoms.
All of the pigs checked out, and daily checkups have continued on the fairgrounds. The swine have shown no signs of illness, and none has been sent home, he said.
“At this point, we’re good up here,” Rice said.
Somerset fair swine superintendent Dan Miller said he doesn’t understand how the Health Department can connect the flu cases with the fair.
“We didn’t have any pigs tested,” Miller said. “How do they know it was at the fair?”
Miller said he does not know the identities of the affected youths, but noted, “There were lots of kids at the fair.”
Only one pig was sent home from the fair, and that was due to a different condition that does not affect humans, Miller said.
Somerset veterinarian Vincent Svonavec said it is not surprising that pigs did not appear ill.
“From what I understand, it is not readily spread from pig to pig, and oftentimes the pigs are asymptomatic,” Svonavec said in a telephone interview from Animal Medical Center, 1911 N. Center Ave.
Although there has been some evidence of human-to-human transmission of the new influenza strain, dubbed H3N2v, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the threat is primarily from contact with swine.
“No sustained community transmission has been found,” the agency said. “CDC is monitoring this situation and working with states to respond to these evolving outbreaks.”
Those at high risk for serious complications are advised to stay away from pigs and pig arenas at fairs, the CDC said.
The leader of the CDC’s Influenza Division Surveillance and Outbreak Response Team said one death has been linked to the new strain, noting the patient was an older adult with “multiple underlying health conditions.” It is believed the Ohio resident had direct exposure to pigs in a fair setting.
“Like with seasonal flu, we have been – and continue to be – particularly concerned about people with factors that put them at high risk of serious complications if they get the flu,” Dr. Lyn Finelli said. “These people should absolutely not have contact with pigs or visit pig arenas at fairs this summer.”
High risk factors for serious flu complications include being younger than 5, older than 65 or pregnant. People with certain chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease also are at high risk.
Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat print edition.
Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat e-edition.
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
