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Have the flu? N.C. wants you to stay away from fairs
The state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services wants anyone with flulike symptoms to stay away from county and state fairs this year.
Posted — UpdatedRALEIGH, N.C. — The state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services wants anyone with flulike symptoms to stay away from county and state fairs this year.
Its reason: to protect the state's $1.9 billion pork industry.
State veterinarian Dr. David Marshall said Tuesday that the H1N1 influenza strain could possibly spread to swine.
State agriculture officials also want fairgoers to use hand-washing stations before and after entering animal exhibits and before eating.
They also want fair managers to add a 6-foot barrier around any swine exhibits and exhibitors to monitor carefully their animals' health while at fairs and when they return to farms.
Fairs across the state have used hand-washing stations in recent years to protect humans from animal-borne illnesses, such as E.coli.
The county fair season runs July through November. The State Fair in Raleigh runs Oct. 15-25.
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