Extra Special Pets & Animals
Aug 24, 2009 6:07 pm US/Central
State Fair Eyes Protecting Pigs, People From H1N1
ST. PAUL (WCCO) ―
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"It's common sense is what it boils down to, and it's not just with H1N1, it's with anything. There's always viruses going around," said Jerry Hammer, General Manager of the Minnesota State Fair.
CBS
When it comes to the H1N1 virus: "We must hope for the best, but prepare for the worst," said a White House panel.
The federal government has signed contracts to spend nearly $2 billion to buy at least 159 million doses of vaccine for the swine flu, but there are questions about whether we'll get that vaccine soon enough.
"If we see an increase in illness over the next 6 to 12 weeks," said Michael Osterholm, Director of Infectious Disease Research at the University of Minnesota, "and most of the vaccine doesn't arrive until 12 to 20 weeks from now, obviously we're really shutting the door after the cow is already out."
Any time there's a large gathering, there are health concerns. That's certainly the case with H1N1 at the Minnesota State Fair, which starts Thursday.
While all the finishing touches are being put into place, getting ready for the "great Minnesota get-together" won't involve anything different than past years as far as H1N1 is concerned.
"It's common sense is what it boils down to," said Jerry Hammer, General Manager of the Minnesota State Fair, "And it's not just with H1N1, it's with anything. There's always viruses going around. There's common cold, there's everything."
Hammer said the Fair is no different than any other public gathering.
But as the flu season nears, health officials are gearing up for a new wave of H1N1 flu. In Minnesota, it's estimated that 1.5 million people will get sick. If the flu follows the pattern it's already established in the rest of the world, it's possible that 26,000 people would be hospitalized.
At the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, the pigs are going to be in their pens starting Tuesday. Believe it or not, the biggest concern is for the animals. There is a concern that people will pass the virus to them. In fact, the Iowa State Fair banned humans from handling the piglets last week.
Veterinarians are advising visitors to wash hands before and after visiting the animals. The virus is not believed to be deadly to pigs, and it would not cause any risk to someone eating pork. But scientists want to keep animals from getting it so that it doesn't create a more deadly strain.
"A big part of the whole H1N1 issue," said Hammer, "is that there are some folks that believe you catch it from animals and you don't. That's passed person-to-person and has nothing to do with contact of animals."
The symptoms of swine flu are similar to seasonal flu and usually include a sore throat, stuffy nose and in some cases, diarrhea and vomiting. The Minnesota Health Department recommends anyone with symptoms to stay home from the Fair.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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