Child tests positive for Influenza A after showing pig at Henry County Fair

The swine superintendent for the Henry County agriculture society, John Poulson, confirmed at least four pigs tested positive for swine flu (H1N2v) at the Henry County Fair.

Officials are awaiting laboratory results to determine whether this is the same strain of the flu that infected the pig.

The health department says H1N2v is a strain of Influenza A and was confirmed on August 14th in four hogs being shown at the Henry County Fair. The infected hogs were immediately put into isolation, and the healthy hogs were sent to market. The swine barn will be closed for the duration of the fair, which ends Thursday, August 17.

The health department advises anyone who has direct contact with swine, such as working in swine barns or showing swine at the fair, and have experienced cough or flu-like illness should contact a healthcare provider and explain they were in contact with swine. Symptoms include cough, sore throat, fever, body aches, and possibly other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

The health department says you can protect yourself from the flu taking the following steps:

- Frequently wash your hands.

- Cover your coughs and sneezes.

- Stay home if you are sick.

In an updated news release sent Tuesday, a fair spokesperson described the illness as a strain of H1N2 influenza.

"On Sunday four hogs began showing symptoms compatible with influenza. On Sunday night, I called the Ohio Department of Agriculture in to test them. Positive results for H1N2 flu were reported at 12:30 Monday," said Dr. Kate Colliflower. "The barn has been closed and will be fully disinfected following the fair."

The fair says nine hogs are still there for veterinary observation. The remaining 112 hogs were taken from the fair for processing.

"Meat from all of these hogs is safe for consumption," said Colliflower "You cannot get the flu from eating or handling pork products."