CINCINNATI —
Health officials investigating illnesses linked to a southwest Ohio county fair confirmed a strain of swine flu in nine cases Thursday and said it matches the virus that infected several people recently at an Indiana fair.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed an H3N2 variant flu virus in nine of 10 suspected Ohio cases. Testing is pending in the tenth case. Symptoms of the virus infection include cough, sore throat, fever, body aches and possible nausea and diarrhea.
The 10 were among as many as 41 people — all but two of them children — who became sick with symptoms like those of swine flu and whose illnesses were linked to the Butler County Fair, which ended last weekend. No hospitalizations have been reported.
Ohio Department of Health spokesman Robert Jennings said it is possible more people may be tested as local health officials gather more information.
In 2009, the World Health Organization declared the H1N1 strain of swine flu the first global flu pandemic in 40 years. Investigation showed the H1N1 was lethal mostly to those with complicating circumstances. It is now considered a seasonal flu and included in the flu vaccine. People have rarely contracted the flu from pigs in recent years.
Dr. Joe Bresee, an influenza epidemiologist for the CDC, said the agency has confirmed 19 cases of the H3N2 swine flu strain since it first showed up about one year ago. Among them, Indiana has had five confirmed cases and Hawaii one.
The summer fair season brings thousands of people into close contact with hogs. Young fair exhibitors often spend hours with their animals, caring for them and preparing them for swine show competitions, and large numbers of people go through fair barns to see the pigs. There are nearly 1,500 hogs at the annual Ohio State Fair in Columbus this week.
Ohio officials are asking doctors throughout the state to watch for patients with flu symptoms, especially if they have attended a fair or have had other contact with hogs or with people who have come in contact with the animals. They also are stepping up alerts and prevention measures with the state fair taking place this week and more county fairs ahead this summer.
Ohio fairgoers are advised to wash their hands and avoid taking food and drinks into livestock barns. Pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems should be particularly careful.
More hand sanitizers have been added around barns at the Ohio State Fair, and owners and veterinarians are being urged to watch for any signs of illness in the hogs. State agriculture officials also spread the word to county extension agents and others who work with 4-H and other youth groups involved with raising livestock. They say infected hogs might cough, sneeze or have stomach ailments.
Indiana officials have also increased precautions for the Indiana State Fair beginning this weekend, and say they will turn away any hogs with temperatures above 105 degrees.
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