The Centers for Disease Control is urging agricultural fairgoers to be extra careful around pigs right now because of a new strain of swine flu in the Midwest.
At the Indiana State Fair, farmers --and the kids who want to one become farmers -- did their best to keep their prized animals cool in the relentless heat.
In the Midwest, the agency is tracking clusters infections including12 new confirmed cases this week alone of a new strain of swine influenza, known as variant H3N2.
Among the latest people sickened: 10 county fairgoers in Ohio, one fair visitor in Indiana, and a pig farmer in Hawaii.
In all, the CDC is confirming 29 H3-N2V infections since July of 2011. Most are tied to direct contact with pigs and13 of the 16 most recent cases involved children.
Flu viruses are constantly changing... and adapting and this new strain has not only made the jump from pigs to people, researchers say it's also picked up a gene from the 2009 pandemic flu that could allow it to spread more easily from person to person.
Researchers say that has not yet happened yet, but it could.
The best option is to protect yourself:
If you go to agricultural fair, the CDC says
wash your hands after animal contact,
don't eat or drink in animal areas
avoid close contact animals who look-ill
young children, pregnant women, or anyone over 65, or with a weakened immune system should be extra careful around animals.
The CDC first identified the new H3N2 variant strain two years ago. Researchers are already working on an experimental vaccine against it, but this year's seasonal flu vaccine, which is already being shipped, will not protect against this particular strain of influenza.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 10:47 PM EDT2013-06-20 02:47:00 GMT
A dangerous trend on college campuses has some people mixing two dangerous conditions. Young women are starving themselves and then binge drinking. They call it "drunkorexia."
A dangerous trend on college campuses has some people mixing two dangerous conditions. Young women are starving themselves and then binge drinking. They call it "drunkorexia."
Monday, June 17 2013 10:08 AM EDT2013-06-17 14:08:03 GMT
Now, it's time to get ‘phine' – and, yes, that's with a ‘P-H.' Fitness trainer Apollo Nida is here to help you get those arms and legs in tip-top shape for summer!
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