The Ohio Departments of Health and Agriculture say they have worked with fairs, youth organizations and veterinarians to increase hand-sanitizing and washing stations. They say older adults, pregnant women, young children and people with weakened immune systems can be vulnerable.
Health officials also advise leaving strollers outside animal exhibits, and suggest that those considered vulnerable stay out of animal areas.
Ohio’s health department director cautioned that some illnesses, such as the flu virus, are commonly carried by livestock and can be directly transmitted between animals and humans in the same way those illnesses are often transmitted between people.
“With fair season upon us, we want to remind folks that some illnesses, such as influenza viruses, are commonly carried by livestock and can be directly transmitted between animals and humans in the same way those illnesses are often transmitted between people,” Dr. Ted Wymyslo, Ohio Department of Health director, said in a statement.
CDC officials said most cases associated with the new strain of swine flu last year were relatively mild.
Fair season in Ohio goes from mid-June through October.
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