The Franklin County Fair, like all fairs, is a place for producers to gather to show their livestock in preparation for market. The public is welcome to attend the livestock judging, putting them in close contact with a variety of animals, and anyone who comes into contact with livestock should be aware of the risks and precautions that should be followed regarding public health safety.
The Franklin County Fair experienced a positive confirmation of swine infected with the H1N1 virus, or more commonly known as, the swine flu, late last week. This does not mean there is cause for great alarm, or that you should not attend agricultural fairs; however, this does raise many questions regarding public health, all of which I intend to discus in this brief post.
H1N1, like all viruses, is transmitted through the passing of body fluid mostly in the form of droplets from coughing or sneezing and can be passed from animal to animal or from animal to human. You cannot become infected with the flu by consuming meat products,as this virus does not affect meat safety or quality, so, let’s just put that concern to rest right away. There are specific and easy preventative measures that fair visitors can take to ensure an enjoyable experience. Visitors to livestock barns can reduce the risk of catching the flu by following sanitation measures such as, washing hands immediately upon exiting the barn, consuming all food and drink items outside of the barn or away from animal enclosures, and leaving toys, pacifiers, or other objects that children may put in or near their mouths out of the barn area. Young children (under five years old), and elderly members over 65, or others who are more likely to be immune-compromised are more at risk and should consider avoiding pigs, and swine in the barn area.
As unfortunate as it is to have these discussions, they are very important and should be re-visited often to reinforce the importance of sanitation and prevention when visiting large events, especially those with animals. Enjoy the fair and keep your hands clean and out of your mouth!
For more information please visit the links below.
National Association of Public Health Veterinarians: http://nasphv.org/Documents/Influenza_Transmission_at_Swine_Exhibitions_2016.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/flu/swineflu/index.htm