Swine flu confirmed in pigs

The Fowlerville Fair may be long gone but swine flu may not be.

The Livingston County Health Department is reporting the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development have identified pigs that were at the Fowlerville Fair that tested positive for swine flu.

Steps were taken to isolate the pigs that were infected and to prevent any additional exposure.

Symptoms of swine flu, or influenza A, showed up in the animals on Thursday, July 26 and results of the sickness were confirmed by a lab on Friday afternoon.

There haven't been any reports of human illnesses.

The Health Department and Fowlerville Fair Board want all swine exhibitors, their families, and anyone who visited the swine barn at the fair to be aware of the possible exposure to the infected pigs. Healthcare providers should also watch for patients with respiratory symptoms who report that they had visited the fair and the pig exhibits.

The Health Department says that swine flu can spread quickly between pigs and while it doesn't happen often, it can pass to humans.

Droplets in the air that come from when sick pigs cough or sneeze is the most common way of transferring the flu.

Human symptoms are similar to those of seasonal flu and can include fever, cough, runny nose, and sometimes body aches, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Symptoms usually appear within three days of exposure but can occur up to 10 days.

The Health Department’s full release is attached to this story.