ATLANTA (AP) — It's the season for state and county fairs,
and health officials are reminding fairgoers to be careful around pigs
because of a new flu spreading from the animals to people.
Officials say
29 human cases of the new strain of swine flu have been confirmed in the
last year, including 12 this week. Ten were linked to the Butler County
Fair in southwest Ohio, which ended last weekend.
The new flu
has a gene from the 2009 pandemic strain that might make it more
contagious. But so far, the strain hasn't spread easily among people, and
recent cases have been mild.
Fairgoers
should wash their hands and avoid taking food and drinks into barns.
Pregnant women, young children, the elderly, and people with weak immune
systems should be extra careful.
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