Key Facts for People Exhibiting Pigs at Fairs

Who is at high risk of serious illness from variant virus infections?

• People who are at high risk for serious complications from flu, including variant flu viruses like H3N2v, include children younger than 5 years, people with certain long-term health conditions like asthma and other lung diseases, diabetes, heart disease, weakened immune systems, neurological or neurodevelopmental conditions, as well as pregnant women and people 65 years and older.
• Most of the people hospitalized because of variant virus infections have had one of these factors that put them at high risk.

Recommendations for Fair Exhibitors with High Risk Factors:

• Anyone at high risk of serious flu complications planning to attend a fair where pigs will be present should avoid pigs and swine barns at the fair.
• This includes pig exhibitors and family members with high risk factors.
• This may mean that exhibitors with one or more high risk factors do not show their pig(s) this year.

Recommendations for Fair Exhibitors Not at High Risk:

• If you are responsible for the care of pigs, watch them for illness (like loss of appetite, cough or runny nose). Call a veterinarian if you suspect illness.
• Avoid close contact with pigs that look or act ill and notify the fair veterinarian and/or the fair manager that your pig may be ill.
• Take protective measures if you must come in contact with pigs that are known or suspected to be sick. This includes wearing protective clothing and gloves and masks that cover your mouth and nose. (This is called “personal protective equipment” or PPE).
• To further reduce the risk of infection, minimize contact with pigs in the pig barn and arenas.

As always, take the following preventive actions:

• Don’t eat or drink or put anything in your mouth in the pig barn and show arena.
• Don’t take toys, pacifiers, cups, bottles, strollers, or similar items into the pig barn and show arenas.
• Wash your hands often with soap and running water before and after exposure to pigs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home to avoid spreading your illness.

What to do if you get sick:

• Flu symptoms usually include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea.
• If you are at high risk and you get flu symptoms, call a health care provider. Tell them about your high risk factor and your symptoms. If you have had recent exposure to pigs, tell them about that too.
• If you are not at high risk and you get flu symptoms after exposure to pigs, seek medical care as you normally would.
• A health care provider can decide whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.
• Influenza antiviral drugs can treat H3N2v as well as seasonal flu illness in people.
• These drugs work better the sooner you start them, so seek medical treatment promptly if you get symptoms and are at high risk.

For More Information

Telephone: 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)/TTY: 1-888-232-63548

Contact: Contact CDC-INFO
Web: Information on Influenza A (H3N2) Variant Viruses (“H3N2v”)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Institute of Food and Agriculture/4-H National Headquarters

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